Earlier this century, the St. Louis Rams dominated the NFL for a handful of years and earned the moniker the “Greatest Show on Turf.” A franchise established in 1936 as the Cleveland Rams, the team bounced from coast to coast until it found a home in St. Louis in 1995. They were a strong team during the 1970s and won an NFC championship. Yet, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that they exploded as an NFL powerhouse with Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt, and Ricky Proehl leading the way. Since then, their fortunes have turned and now they barely hang on for life. Saints fans can definitely empathize with Rams fans and how the latter now look to the ever-elusive “next year” as their salvation. We know that heartbreak all too well.

Over the years, the Saints had decent teams, especially during Jim Mora’s tenure, but overall, Saints fans and players alike knew nothing but heartbreak, anguish, and missed opportunities, much like Rams fans.

We empathize, but that’s about it.

2009 has offered itself as a different kind of season for the Saints and the comparisons to the Greatest Show on Turf have not gone unnoticed. Both teams (2009 Saints and Rams of yore) employed the same tactics: a high-powered offense with multiple receiver threats who can win no matter the circumstances, offensive lines who win the battle in the trenches, and a strong defense that can close out games. We also have the mojo this season; they have the hex.

For the remainder of the season, the Saints have the easiest schedule in the NFL thus ensuring a grand time here in Nola. The Rams have faced in their last three home games serious Superbowl contenders in their losses to Minnesota, Indianapolis, and come this Sunday to the Saints, all undefeated teams when they faced the Rams. The Rams’ defense have also had to face the top three rated quarterbacks in a row with Brees, Brady, and Manning; a prospect that no NFL team would like to entertain.

This week, I present to you Surf and Turf Rambalaya, a local twist on a classic, much like the 2009 Saints.

Rambalaya
Ingredients
1 pound smoked green onion sausage, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1/3 cup of chopped green pepper
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
¾ cup of chopped fresh parsley
1 cup chopped celery
2 (14 oz.) cans of tomatoes, hand crushed
2 cups of chicken stock
1 cup of chopped green onions
1 teaspoon of thyme
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons of dried oregano
Salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper, to taste
2 cups of dry long-grain rice
3 pounds of large shrimp (about 1 pound for small), peeled and deveined

Preparation
Sauté sausage in a saucepan. Remove with slotted spoon and reserve. Add oil and pepper, garlic, parsley, and celery and sauté for roughly five minutes, or until translucent. Add tomato and next six ingredients. Wash and rinse the rice multiple times and add to saucepan. Add sausage and cover. Cook over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp and cook until they are pink. Transfer mixture to a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for roughly 30 minutes. Serves 10.