Jambalaya

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, quartered and sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper, or combination of red and green bell pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 pound peeled, cleaned, and cooked shrimp
• 1 chorizo sausage, sliced

Preparation:

Heat oil over medium heat in a large deep skillet. Add ham; brown lightly. Add onions, bell pepper, and garlic; cook until tender. Add tomatoes and tomato paste, water, rice, bay leaf, salt, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp and sliced chorizo and heat through. Serve with crusty garlic bread.

Serves 4 to 6.