INGREDIENTS

1 whole chicken (about 3 pounds), cut into 12 pieces, bone in
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped celery
6 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons minced shallots
1 1/2 cups chopped andouille sausage (12 ounces)
3 cups uncooked long grain white rice
1 1/2 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped Italian plum tomatoes
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
9 bay leaves
3 tablespoons Spice Mix (ex.Emeril's Essence)
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
6 cups chicken stock
36 scrubbed littleneck clams
36 Canadian Cove mussels
18 medium shrimp in their shell (3/4 pound)
1/4 cup chopped parsley

DIRECTIONS
Sprinkle the chicken pieces evenly with the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large stock pot over high heat. Add the chicken and brown on all sides, for about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, celery, garlic, shallots, sausage and rice and stir fry for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, hot pepper sauce, bay leaves, Essence and saffron and simmer for 1 minute. Add the stock, stir well and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the clams, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the mussels and shrimp, cover and cook for 3 minutes. All of the clam and mussel shells should be opened. Discard any that are still closed.