Wednesday Edition: What's New

Did you realize that the last Wednesday post (2 weeks ago) didn't have a new ingredient?  I realized it about 2 days after I did the post!  How could I just forget that?

I didn't forget this week, so now we return to our regular scheduled posting!

This week's new to me ingredient is okra.

According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, okra is used in all types of cuisines throughout the world.  Wikipedia also advises that to minimize the "goo" or "sliminess" of okra that you should leave the bean pods intact and quickly cook them.  I will remember that for next time, since I am not a fan of the "goo".

I used some frozen okra in a recipe for Creole Dirty Rice that I found in Clean Eating magazine.  Except for the goo, it came out pretty good!  Do you cook with okra?  What's your favorite recipe to use it in and how do you cook it?

Creole Dirty Rice
Recipe adapted from Clean Eating magazine
Ingredients:
1 C brown rice
1 package pre-cooked chicken sausage, sliced
cooking spray
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 green pepper, cored, seeded and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can red beans
1/2 - 1 C okra (sliced or whole, depending on preference)
1 bay leaf
2 tomatoes, cored, seeded and finely chopped
1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
4 tsp cilantro chopped

Instructions:
Cook rice according to package.  Meanwhile, brown chicken sausage in large pot sprayed with cooking spray. 

Remove chicken from pot, re-spray, and add onion, green pepper and garlic.  Saute for several minutes or until veggies are cooked through.  Add beans and 1/2 C water and bay leaf to pot and cook for 5-10 minutes over medium-low heat. 

Remove bay leaf and stir in Cajun seasoning, rice, sausage, okra, and tomatoes and cook for about 10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper and garnish with cilantro before serving.

I forgot to add cilantro!!

p.s.: stop by Two Bears Farms to enter a giveaway for some Toddler Toes labels!
p.p.s: I linked up at Chronicles of a Crazy Mom's Wednesday blog hop!