During college, Suzy worked as a hostess at Cheesecake Factory. That was a definite upgrade! I didn't eat much seafood in high school and I don't see the fascination with hush puppies. And although I don't eat dessert, cheesecake is a weakness of mine. The first place I go to is the cheesecake section of their menu to see what I'm having AFTER dinner. But do not kid yourself, the food at cheesecake factory is every bit as good as the sweets!
Suzy and I are both huge fans of their Cajun Jambalaya Pasta. I don't know if this beats Fatz Cafe's Baja Chicken Pasta, but it's close. The best recipe I found was on Food.com but of course I did not follow it to spec. I change the spices to get the right amount of heat, and we both prefer stewed tomato over chopped. However, I will post the original recipe and let you put your own signature on it.
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (halved)
1/2 lb large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
5 quarts water
6 ounces fettuccine
6 ounces spinach fettuccine
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium chopped tomatoes
1 sliced green bell pepper
1 sliced red bell pepper
1 sliced yellow bell pepper
1 medium onion, sliced
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons white wine
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
Make a cajun seasoning blend by combining the white pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Cut the chicken breasts into bite-size pieces. Use about one- third of the seasoning blend to coat the chicken pieces. In another bowl, sprinkle another one-third of the spice blend over the shrimp. Start your pasta cooking by bringing 5 quarts of water to a boil over high heat. Add both fettuccine to the hot water, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer for 12 to 14 minutes or until the pasta is tender. While the pasta cooks, heat 1 Tablespoon of the olive oil in a large frying pan or skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, saute' the chicken in the pan for about 2 minutes per side or until the surface of the chicken starts to turn brown. Add the shrimp to the pan with the chicken and cook another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep the shrimp from sticking. When the chicken and shrimp have been seared, pour the contents of the pan onto a plate or into a bowl. Do not rinse the pan! Put the pan back over high heat and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the tomatoes, peppers and onions to the oil. Sprinkle the vegetables with the remaining spice blend and saute' for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables begin to turn dark brown or black. Add the chicken and shrimp to the vegetables and pour 3/4 cup of the chicken stock in the pan. Cook over high heat until the stock has been reduced to just about nothing. Add the remaining 3/4 cup of stock to the pan. The liquid should become dark as it deglazes the pan of the dark film left by the spices and cooking food. Stir constantly, scraping the blackened stuff on the bottom of the pan. Reduce the broth a bit more, then turn the heat down to low. Combine the cornstarch with the wine in a small bowl. Stir until it is dissolved. Add this to the pan and simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly. When the pasta is done, drain it and spoon half onto a plate. Spoon half of the jambalaya over the pasta. Sprinkle half the parsley over the top. Repeat for the second serving.
This is truly a great jambalaya recipe! This pairs well with a good Pinot Noir. Stay tuned for more updates and recipes of our favorite meals, but don't hold your breath waiting for one on hush puppies!
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