When someone asks me at work if it’s ok for them to paint while pregnant, I feel like they think they are looking at an 8- month-pregnant party girl with a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other.
Really, are you asking me, in my obviously pregnant state, if it’s ok for you to paint pregnant?
I can never help responding with dripping sarcasm, “Well, I WORK in a paint store, so I may be the wrong person to ask”.
These same newly-pregnant moms usually ask me to carry their paint out to their cars for them, unless their strapping husbands have been dragged along on this mission to choose and purchase the perfect baby room colour and coordinating Disney border.
Now, I am all for using your pregnancy to get out of certain things, but really, paint in Canada is so regulated and safe these days that you’d probably be better off painting every room in your home than you would be cleaning your bathroom or using your microwave.
Ok, rant over…I have only one more week of work before my year of maternity leave, so I had to get it out now :)
In other news, I’ve mentioned before how much I love Cooking Light magazine after receiving a bunch of old copies from an aunt – despite being “light”, they never disappoint in taste or texture, and are generally also really easy. This recipe from one of those old magazines is no exception, and also happens to boast beautiful colours!
I am not, as a rule, a rice fan, mainly because I’m really kinda lousy at cooking it. So recipes like this one, where the rice cooks along with everything else, are right up my alley! This dish is jam-packed with flavour and nutrition, cooks quickly all in one pot, and is a perfect way to use up leftover turkey after Thanksgiving. Serve with a side salad or a loaf of homemade French bread for a heart- and soul-warming weeknight meal!
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped (about 1½ cups)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 whole bell peppers, any colour, chopped
- 2½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup UNCOOKED long-grain white rice
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 cups shredded turkey (or chicken), cooked
- 6 oz andouille sausage, chopped and cooked (If you can’t find this kind, just use one of your favourites - spicy is nice!)
- 2 tbsp sliced green onions, (for garnish - optional)
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add onion and garlic and sauté 5 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Stir in peppers and next 5 seasonings and sauté 1 minute.
- Add uncooked rice; sauté 1 minute longer.
- Stir in broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add cooked turkey and sausage; cover and cook 5 minutes more to heat through.
- Sprinkle with green onions, if desired - we also like a healthy sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top, but we like cheese on everything :)
This looks and sounds delicious! Just breathe deep, ignore the idiots and next time someone makes an idiotic comment regarding your pregnancy, look them straight in the eye and deny being pregnant. You will laugh about it for years, I promise. :P
Have a great weekend!
When I was pregnant I got told as I was as big as a house, from a personal friend. Can you imagine? I swear I wanted to beat him senseless but since he already seemed senseless what would be the point. People these days seem to just say whatever pops into their heads. You should hear the stuff I’ve heard people say over me being a stay at home mom over the years. Holy heck, there has been some absolute insults hurled at me. Then they smile sweetly like they didn’t say anything offensive. People are weird. I can’t quite get over someone asking you to carry their paint when you’re pregnant too. That’s the level of genius that a paint can over the head might fix.
Love this dish. I need to make this dish. Then ask you to carry it to my car for me. *giggles*
Your ranting is funny! I think it’s rude when people, especially healthy ones make you carry there stuff! Ugh!!! Your Turkey & Sausage Rice Jambalaya looks amazing!! I love Jambalaya!
I got so sick of that kind of stuff when I was pregnant. It’s funny how people have these ideas about what you can’t do that is really just based on urban legend and no facts. I had one guy that I barely know watch me eat mushroom soup and then say, “Can you eat mushrooms when you’re pregnant?” and I said, “If the answer was no, would you smack it out of hand? Then don’t ask.” I was pretty surly, but I got SO sick of defending myself to ignorant people. It’s not like you are chewing on a lead paint popsicle, paint is safer than smog these days! Or when people will say, “You can’t eat fish when you’re pregnant!” Actually, you are supposed to eat fish when you’re pregnant the Omega 3’s are essential for brain development, you are just supposed to watch the high mercury fish.
Hahaha, I love everything about your comment, we would get along great :) It’s truly amazing what people feel they can say to you when you’re pregnant, especially the ever popular, “Oh wow, you’re HUGE!” :P
Oh funny! People say the funniest things to pregnant girls-seriously. This dish looks great!