Cajun Dirty Rice with Shrimp & Sausage

One of my favorite dishes - lots of hot spicy flavor! Rice is a great staple to have in the cupboard as well as chicken stock to cook it in. It gives the rice great taste and enhances your overall recipe. Everytime I make this dish I variate the recipe depending on the ingredients I have on hand - it always tastes great though and Damon goubles up every bite!

1/2 lb. shrimp (31-40) peeled and deveined

8 oz. andouille sausage (this is a cajun spice sausage - you can use any kind you like though)

1 cup frozen mexican or cajun veggie mix (the mix I like contains corn, black beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions and a seasoning on them. I find it in the frozen veggie section.)

2 tbl. olive oil

2 cloves garlic minced

Worcestershire sauce

1 tbl. red pepper flakes

1 tbl. ground black pepper

1/2 teas. hot chili powder

1/2 teas. salt

3 tbl. butter

1 cup colby jack shredded cheese (or any shredded cheese)

Shrimp seasoning: (the measurements are just guidelines - substitute or lessen/add as your tastes so desire)
1/2 tbl. paprika

1/2 tbl. salt

1/2 tbl. garlic powder

1/2 tbl. black pepper

1/2 tbl. onion powder

1/2 tbl. cayenne pepper

1/2 tbl. oregano

1/2 tbl. thyme

1. Combine all spices in for the seasoning mixture and use about 2/3 to cover the shrimp in a plasic bag. Reserve the remaing mix. Refrigerate while you prepare the other ingredients.

2. Prepare the rice according package directions for 2 servings. In a deep skillet, heat a tbl of oil and saute the cut up sausage for 2-3 minutes, add onion and saute another 2 minutes. Add garlic, pepper flakes, frozen veggie mix and about 3 shakes of the Worcestershire sauce. Once the sausage is cooked through and the veggies are tender, add skillet contents to the pot containing the cooked rice. Cover to keep warm while you get the shrimp going.

3. Using the same skillet as the sausage, add a tbl. of oil to the pan and the seasoned shrimp. Saute 1-2 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Be careful not to over cook shrimp - it will get rubbery.

4. Remove the shrimp from heat and add the rice & sausage mixture to the skillet. Use a spatula or other cooking utensil to scrap the bottom of the skillet and combine all of the ingredients. Add the remaining 1/3 of the seasoning mix and the 3 tbl. butter. Stir until homogenized (love that word!). Add the cheese, stir until melted and serve. Delish!