Southern Jambalaya

Description
Stick to your ribs cooking, Cajun-style.

Ingredients

 * 2 medium onions, chopped
 * 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
 * ½ cup diced celery
 * 3 cloves garlic, minced
 * 3 tablespoons olive oil
 * 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
 * 1 cup uncooked rice
 * 2 cups chicken broth
 * 1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes
 * ¾ teaspoon salt
 * ¼ teaspoon pepper
 * ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
 * ½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
 * 1 bay leaf
 * 1 lb cubed cooked ham

Directions

 * 1) Cook the onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic in two tbsp of the oil in a dutch oven, about 3 – 4 minutes.
 * 2) Add shrimp and cook until shrimp are pink, about 5 minutes.
 * 3) Remove shrimp mixture and reserve.
 * 4) Add last tbsp oil to the pan along with the rice and cook over med-high heat about ten minutes, until the rice is a light brown, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
 * 5) Stir in the broth, tomatoes, salt, pepper, thyme, Tabasco, and the bay leaf.
 * 6) Heat mixture to a boil then cover, reduce hear and simmer, about 15 – 20 minutes or until rice is tender.
 * 7) Stir in the reserved shrimp and also the ham.
 * 8) Cover and cook until heated through.
 * 9) Remove bay leaf, and serve.