Chicken, sausage, shrimp and veggies nestle in black rice is an easy one pot meal.  Perfect for busy weeknight dinners. 

There are two types of jambalaya. This one is a red one, Creole style, which uses tomatoes. The other type is a brown jambalaya, Cajun style, without the tomatoes. The Louisiana origins of this dish can be traced to attempts by Spanish settlers to make paella. They didn't have saffron there, so they substituted tomatoes. Gradually, regional spices and flavors were incorporated into the new world version of this delicious rice dish that we know today.

Jambalaya is traditionally made with the long-grain rice, but I decided to try making it with black rice.  Black rice, also known as purple rice or forbidden rice, especially high in nutrients, like fiber and antioxidants, compared to other types of rice.  

Black Rice Jambalaya
Yields approximately 8 servings

​Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 chicken breast
1 pound sausages of your choice, sliced into wedges
1 pound (500 g) raw shrimp/prawns tails off, peeled and deveined*
3 ribs celery, diced small
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and diced
​1 small yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano (or 1 Tablespoon fresh, chopped)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
​1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup black rice
2 cups shrimp stock* (you can also use beef or chicken stock)

*Take shrimp heads/tails and place in pan with 2 1/2 cups of water, bring to a boil.  Turn off heat and let sit for 30-60 minutes to use for shrimp stock.

This is a hearty meal, so I would suggest serving by itself or with salad or fruit.

This Langostino Lobster Egg Casserole is one of my favorites.  It's easy to make but looks so elegant - perfect for Sunday brunch or Mother's Day breakfast.  It stores easy in the refrigerator and freezes nicely.  

​Langostino Lobsters have a more complex and delicate taste than lobster. The flavor is sweet, elegant. 

Can't find them in the fresh fish section of your local grocery strore?  Look for them in the frozen section.  That's where I usually find them at Costco.

Langostino Lobster Egg Casserole
Yields 8 servings

Ingredients:
6 eggs beaten
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2-1 cup Langostino lobster, chopped (depending how much you like Langostino Lobster and your budget)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup cooked broccoli, chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.Grease a 9x13” baking dish, set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs.  Add heavy whipping cream and whisk to combine.

Add Langostino Lobster, broccoli and onion to the egg mixture and stir to combine.

Add cheese. Stir to combine.  Add garlic, Herbs de Provence, salt and pepper and stir.

Pour into prepared baking dish and spread the mixture evenly in the dish.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until top is set and slightly browned.

​Cool for 5 minutes and serve warm.

STORE:
Cut this breakfast casserole into squares and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

FREEZE:
Let the casserole cool completely, then cut it into the proper serving sizes, and freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. To reheat, remove the egg casserole from the freezer and warm in the microwave or oven until heated through. 

Serve with fresh fruit and micro greens for a Keto-friendly breakfast.

Overnight oats are a quick and easy breakfast made by soaking rolled oats in milk overnight. This recipe features apples and pecans for a yummy apple pecan pie flavor.

Apple Pecan Pie Overnight Oats
Yields 2 servings

Ingredients:
For the Apple Pecan Pie
3/4 cup crisp, sweet apple, peeled and cut into small bite-size pieces
1/4 cup pecans, chopped 
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 pinch sea salt
​1 Tablespoon butter

For the Overnight Oats
3/4 cup unsweetened nut milk (I used oat milk)
1 Tablespoon chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 Tablespoons creamy unsalted almond butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats 

​APPLES: To a small saucepan, add butter.  Once melted, add chopped apples, pecans cinnamon, maple syrup, and salt and mix to evenly distribute the cinnamon.
​
Turn heat on low and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the apples are soft and tender. Turn off the heat and set aside.

Overnight oats are typically served chilled. However, if you prefer warm oats, you can heat them in the microwave. Warming the oats will make the oats extra rich and creamy and the texture will be more like freshly cooked oatmeal. I recommend adding the toppings once the oats are warmed. ​

Top with fruit, granola, chopped Medjool dates, or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt.  Here's how I had it each time.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
Yields 6 servings
 
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
5-8 hours*
 
Ingredients:
1 (3 to 3-1/2 pound) boneless corned beef brisket with pickling spice packet
1 to 1-1/2 pounds Dutch baby potatoes, chopped in bit sized pieces
5 to 6 carrots, peeled and cut into 2" chunks (I used organic rainbow carrots)
4 cups vegetable or beef broth (I used vegetable)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 head purple (or green) cabbage, cored and sliced into small wedges
2 to 3 Tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
Place corned beef brisket fat side up into a slow cooker.  Sprinkle with pickling spices and minced garlic. 

Pour broth over top of the brisket. Scatter potatoes and carrots around the edges of the brisket.

Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours, until both the corned beef and vegetables are fork tender.

Remove veggies to a serving platter and transfer brisket to a cutting board and cover with a sheet of foil to keep it warm.

To a Dutch Oven over high heat, add cabbage wedges and enough cooking liquid from slow cooker to cover cabbage.  Bring to a boil. Reduce to heat medium, cover, and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until cabbage is softened and slightly tender. Remove cabbage with a slotted spoon and transfer to serving platter with other veggies. Dot with butter and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Slice corned beef across the grain and transfer to serving platter.

*If you choose LOW setting, it will take approximately 8-9 hours. ​

No travel this month.  Sadly, I could have gone somewhere because we had two weeks off of Portuguese language class, but we only found out the Wednesday before the Monday we were off.  I had doctors appointments the first week, but the second week was a possibility if only I had more time to plan.  So I decided to do a Staycation (see Being a Local Tourist below)!  After all, Lisbon is a wonderful sightseeing location.

I visited the following museums/attractions.  Click on the links to be taken to that blog post to learn more.
Medeiros e Almeida Museum
Jerónimos Monastery
MAAT Museum
​Jardim Zoologico (Lisbon Zoo)

My €2,200/month budget was off this month due to a major expense this month of getting new sunglasses to a cost of €680.  I only paid for half in February while they were being made (they are to be ready on March 2 when I'll pay the other 50%).

Health costs were €630.28 in February.  €365.28 for the 50% of sun glasses.  €159.78 for health insurance and the rest on vitamins and doctor co-pays.

I spent €327 (up slightly from January) on food because I stocked up on meats (fish, chicken, pork and red meat). 

I ate out 7 times this month for the grand total of €101.40 - that averages to €14.49 per meal.  Not bad!  That even included a fabulous meal (and most expensive of the 7) at a French restaurant in Belém called Restaurante Comptoir Parisien.

Utilities - Gas (for two months) was €23.83 and Electricity was €33.87.  I'm still waiting on the Water bill from my landlord.  They pay and then I reimburse them.

I got a package out of customs jail.  A friend had mailed me a Christmas package.  Portugal wanted €63 Euros for a gift valued at $45.  But a friend told me if I check the box that it is a gift, the duty will be waived.  I did and it was.  It only took one month and 20 days to get to me.

​I continued to do the tasks necessary after receiving my residence card.  I'm now a tax resident of Portugal and received my NHR status which means I only pay a 10% flat tax for the next 10 years (if I understood this correctly), but what I pay in the United States would be subtracted from that amount (I think I will definitely get a Portuguese accountant to help me when it's time to do taxes next year).

At the end of January, I had all of the tests done for my physical.  This month, I saw the doctor to review them.  Unfortunately, my cholesterol is very high, so I'm now on a daily statin drug.

I also went the dentist for a cleaning.  My cleaning along with a full set of X-Rays was only €63  and I don't have dental insurance here.  It would have probably been closer to $400 in the United States.  The dental hygienist recommended a cleaning every 6 months.  I'll be curious to see what just a cleaning costs.  I had two cavities (bad Linda!) and a possibly needing a root canal and crown.  I've had both cavities filled for €30 each.

I also went to the eye doctors for a yearly exam.  I do have vision insurance included so I only had to pay my co-pay of €19.  My vision only changed very slightly in my left eye so I don't need new glasses.  However, since my sunglasses were even an older prescription from 2020, I decided to get those replaced.  Glasses are most expensive here (at least for my level of prescription - as I mentioned above it was €680).  Unfortunately my current health insurance plan doesn't pay for glasses.  I might have to look for another plan since I know that some plans do pay.

I colored 11 pages in February.  Here are my favorites.

Just click on the photo to be taken to the recipe page.

What Happens in Paradise and Troubles in Paradise (Books 2 and 3) in the Paradise trilogy by Elin Hilderbrand.  I read Winter in Paradise in 2022.

​Murder Under Cover by Kate Carlisle.

The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton

Continuing with the Bridgerton series, When He Was Wicked and It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn.