Cajun-Asian Fusion Stuffed Gypsy Peppers
I decided to get creative and find a way to use the sweet-flavored gypsy peppers which I grew in my summer garden. I concocted a dish which has both Cajun and Asian elements which I am calling, “Cajun-Asian Fusion Stuffed Gypsy Peppers.” I used a traditional Cajun stuffing of pork, rice and lots of vegetable…
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Crawfish Queso Dip
It is crawfish season here in Louisiana and I always like to feature a crawfish dish on my blog each spring. This year I’m making the appetizer, “Crawfish Queso Dip.” It is incredibly simple to make (less that 15 minutes from start to finish) and surprisingly tasty. If “Kristy’s Matzah Crack” is a home run,…
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Cajun Boudin Balls with Spicy Mustard Dip
Today I’m making a rew recipe, “Cajun Boudin Balls.” It is one of the newest trends in Cajun cuisine. This tasty appetizer is made by breading and frying Cajun boudin sausage. They are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Typically, some sort of dipping sauce is served wtih the appetizer. Boudin Balls…
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Green Gumbo
This week I’m cooking “Green Gumbo” or “gumbo z’herbes.” What is “Green Gumbo?” It is a thick, flavorful soup traditionally served in Louisiana Catholic homes during Lent. On Fridays during Lent, a meatless version of gumbo is made by omitting meat and chicken and substituting vegetable broth or water for chicken stock. On Holy Thursday…
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Cajun-Inspired Shrimp-Stuffed Patty Pan Squash
“Cajun-Inspired Shrimp-Stuffed Patty Pan Squash” may be my best recipe ever for fixing all the numerous summer squashes which grow my garden. I used these cute little “space ship” shaped patty pan squash and stuffed them with a savory shrimp filling. The patty pan squash are very bland compared to other summer squash varieties. They…
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Authentic Cajun Dirty Rice
This week I’m featuring a recipe for “authentic” “Cajun Dirty Rice.” What is so special about “Cajun Dirty Rice”? When this recipe is made properly, it is absolutely delicious. Long ago, I worked in a small town outside of Baton Rouge. Upon leaving work, I would drive out of my way just to purchase a…
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Crawfish Cheesecake
It’s crawfish season here in Louisiana. These delicate, tasty freshwater crustaceans aren’t around very long in the spring, so it’s time to get cooking. This year I am making a unique recipe featuring this mudbug, “Crawfish Cheesecake.” And it is not what you might think it to be. Nope, this dish is not a dessert.…
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Smothered Kale with Andouille Sausage
Here’s a recipe using another vegetable which is growing in my winter garden. “Smothered Kale and Andouille Sausage” is just good old-fashioned Southern cooking at its best. This recipe substitutes kale for other traditional Southern vegetables such as mustard greens, turnip greens, cabbage and okra. I am successfully growing Dinosaur kale in my garden this…
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Marie’s Party Shrimp Dip
With Mardi Gras quickly approaching, here’s a delicious “Shrimp Dip” to include in Mardi Gras parties. What could be more southern that shrimp? The dip, served along with crackers and vegetables, is perfect for this festive celebration. Actually, the shrimp dip is good any time of the year and it is a favorite appetizer for…
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Instant Pot Magic: Let’s Cook Dried White Beans & Smoked Cajun Tasso
I love my Instant Pot for many reasons. One is speed. Some foods, such as dried beans, cook much faster when using the pressure setting on an Instant Pot. Now I can cook healthy dried beans in a reasonable amount of time (rather than all day). Although there are differences between types of beans, I…
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Brined and Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast with a “Touch” of Cajun Spice
Is my family the only one who doesn’t like traditional turkey and fixings for Christmas? After getting up at the crack of dawn to begin roasting the turkey and spending what seems like “hours” in the kitchen to fix the perfect Christmas dinner, I finally got the message. My family really doesn’t care for turkey…
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Cajun Deviled Eggplant with Shrimp
“Deviled Eggplant with Shrimp” is one of those classic Louisiana entrees which I just love. It is full of the flavor of fresh vegetables and eggplant and the dish is just a little spicy. Add in shrimp and now we’re cooking. The casserole has been around for years with many variations and goes by several…
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Baked Crawfish Macaroni and Cheese & a Shrimp Variation
Here is my second crawfish recipe for this spring during the peak of the Louisiana crawfish harvest. I don’t think that I would have considered making macaroni and cheese with crawfish but a local magazine featured this dish. Wow, this baked version is pretty good. Although I was skeptical at first about adding seafood to…
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New Orleans Shrimp Creole
Shrimp Creole is a venerable and classic New Orleans entrée. It combines the “Holy Trinity” of fresh vegetable seasonings with tomatoes, spices and shrimp to make a flavorful and satisfying dish. Although not seen as frequently on restaurant menus as perhaps in past years, the entrée is certainly served in New Orleans’ homes during Lent…
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Marie’s Artichoke & Mushroom Appetizers with a “Pinch of Cajun”
I love artichokes in any shape or fashion– added to green salads, as an ingredient in dips, in New Orleans Eggs Benedict or as a whole boiled artichoke. One of my favorite recipes combines chicken, artichokes, pearl onions and wine. Yum! Marie made an artichoke appetizer recently at a dinner gathering for a small group…
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Shrimp Etouffee with Fried Green Tomatoes
You can’t get more southern than “Shrimp Etouffee with Fried Green Tomatoes.” I’m making this very traditional Creole/Cajun dish — “Shrimp Etouffee” — this week and I am serving it with “Fried Green Tomatoes” using the last of the tomatoes that I picked from my summer garden. Usually etouffee is made with crawfish when served…
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Cajun Chicken and Sausage Gumbo for Christmas Eve
Years ago, I visited a friend on Christmas Eve night since I was not returning to my family gathering in Virginia over the holidays. My friend served “Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.” How interesting, I mused, to serve a simple soup on this special occasion. Since that dinner, I have eaten gumbo at other Christmas Eve…
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Sweet Potato Bread Pudding
Bread Pudding is the quintessential New Orleans dessert. Every restaurant in the city has some sort of variation. Here’s an twist to this southern dessert. Sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie spices along with pecans really dress up classical bread pudding. And it appears like a cake when baked in a spring form pan. I served…
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Bayou Boiled Shrimp Salad
“Bayou Boiled Shrimp Salad” is a flavorful way to serve Gulf Coast shrimp. It is a pleasant alternative to fried seafood found in many restaurants. For a unique twist, I boiled the shrimp in my own “seafood boil” blend of spices. The shrimp absorb the seasonings resulting in a flavorful and tender dish. Toss the…
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Crawfish-Stuffed Egglant Pirogues
Here’s a recipe that combines crawfish with seasonings and diced eggplant. The stuffing is piled back into eggplant shells and baked. For eggplant lovers, this is a great dish. If you don’t have crawfish available, then substitute shrimp. This is one if my favorite seafood dishes which I’m naming, “Crawfish-Stuffed Eggplant Pirogues.” It can be …
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Pecan Tassies with Persimmon
If you like pecan pie, then you will like Pecan Tassies. And if you are not a fan of pecan pie, I bet you might like my version of this dessert. I added persimmon pulp (or you could add pumpkin puree) and the custard filling mellows out the rich and so, so sweet flavor of…
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Marie’s Southern-Style Cornbread & Sausage Dressing
Thanksgiving will be here soon; roasted turkey and dressing are always on the menu. I especially love cornbread dressing; but never have been very successful at making it myself. Folks rave about Marie’s Cornbread & Sausage Dressing and she shared the recipe with me. Her recipe has a Cajun flare, it is uniquely Southern with…
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Cajun-Style Shrimp Stuffed Jalapenos & Variations
I grew a bumper crop of jalapeno peppers in my garden this summer; these hot peppers are extremely easy to grow. One of my favorite appetizers at a local restaurant uses these peppers in a dish called “Crab Stuffed Jalapenos.” All summer I’ve attempted to duplicate and copy their recipe using my large crop of…
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In Search of the Real Cajun Jambalaya
Will the REAL jambalaya recipe please come forward? Ever since President Trump served “Carolina Gold Rice Jambalaya” in April at a state dinner honoring French President, Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, controversy has been brewing in Louisiana. That is not “jambalaya,” folks protested. This set off a flurry of newspaper editorials, recipes and opinions in…
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Crawfish Étouffée – Simple Shortcut
Here is one of my favorite crawfish recipes–Crawfish Étouffée. This is a very popular dish in Louisiana, especially in the spring when crawfish are plentiful. My version is simple to make and it is as good as you will find in any restaurant. Étouffée is a Cajun dish; a thick stew. Crawfish or seafood are…
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Marie’s Crawfish Tarts
Springtime in Louisiana means that it’s time for crawfish. These crustaceans live in the swamps and in the springtime they grow and come out of their burrows. The tails, when peeled, are large enough to eat for a feast. A Louisiana delicacy. A spring crawfish boil is a ritual here in South Louisiana and the…
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Cajun Crawfish Cornbread Casserole
Boiled crawfish in the springtime is a unique Louisiana custom. As spring bursts into the air and the weather warms up, crawfish come out of their burrows. We get a few short months of eating these freshwater crustaceans. I have several favorite recipes for cooking with crawfish. This recipe comes from Aunt Gaye who stated, “this is…
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Chef Paul Prudhomme & Cajun Baked Redfish
Legendary Louisiana Chef Paul Prudhomme passed away this week. His funeral was yesterday (Monday). Prudhomme is best known for his Blackened Redfish dish and popularizing Cajun cooking. I had the chance opportunity to cook a redfish fillet this weekend with fish my daughter-in-law’s family caught. I used Chef Prudhomme’s Blackened Redfish Magic Seasoning Blend. You can tell this…
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Emeril’s New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp
It has been 10 years since Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 percent of New Orleans with mandatory evacuation of the entire city. So many memories. A visit to the city shows that it has rebounded — the culture, energy, music and restaurants have returned. If there is a single food that I identify with New Orleans, it might be…
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Cajun Macque Choux
Here’s a recipe that is unique to southern Louisiana and uses summer fresh corn on the cob. Macque Choux is a Cajun dish — stewed corn with seasonings. There are as many variations as there are Cajun cooks. Mine is a very traditional recipe. What is Macque Choux? Macque Choux is a Cajun dish, stewed…
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New Orlean’s Restaurant: Variations on Mosca’s Garlic Chicken
Some of the most memorable New Orleans’ restaurants are perhaps not the most fancy or flamboyant ones. Mosca’s Restaurant is one that you have to search out; but it is a unique Louisiana experience. Mosca’s is an Creole Italian Restaurant. I dined there years ago and fell in love with the Garlic Chicken. We decided to search…
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Grillades and Grits: A New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition
My culinary tribute to Mardi Gras this year is Grillades and Grits. This is the quintessential New Orleans brunch menu, especially during Mardi Gras carnival season. Here’s a little about the tradition and the dish. Never heard of this dish? When I moved to Louisiana, neither had I. Grillades and Grits is a traditional brunch menu…
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Easy Shrimp Remoulade with Mirliton and Avocado
This shrimp remoulade appetizer is about as easy as it gets to prepare. For a touch of local flavor, I included the native Louisiana vegetable, mirliton. When served on a holiday buffet, this shrimp appetizer is appealing and tasty–very traditional Louisiana cuisine. Easy Shrimp Remoulade with Mirliton and Avocado This started out as “Avocado Appetizer” in the recipe book, “Thoughts for…
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Chef John Folse’s Tunica-Stuffed Peppers
Hard to believe that October is here already. This summer flew by. Guess I still have a few summer vegetables on my mind–including these colorful bell peppers. Bell peppers are very nutritious and also inexpensive when in season in the summer. One of my favorite ways to prepare bell peppers is stuffed with ground meat,…
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New Orleans-Style Shrimp Po-Boy
When visiting Louisiana you must try a Shrimp Po-Boy. It is one of our specialties. New Orleans is filled with small neighborhood restaurants and many offer po-boys. Here is a small store in a filling station in Mid City, New Orleans, close to where my son lives. It makes 32″ po-boys to order and the shrimp…
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Crawfish Cardinale: A Little Lighter
Spring is crawfish season in Louisiana and the mudbugs are becoming more plentiful as the weather gets warmer. While boiled crawfish is probably the most popular way to prepare crawfish, the peeled crawfish tails are very tasty when prepared in other ways. Crawfish Cardinale is an easy and elegant recipe. Louisiana Specialty Crawfish is definitely a Louisiana…
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Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Incredibly, we’re headed into several more days of freezing sleet and snow here in Louisiana. Haven’t seen this much icy weather in several years. Schools and businesses are closed; so we’re basically on lock-down. At least it would be wise to stay home and warm today and tomorrow. Start a fire in the fireplace, do…
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Shrimp Stuffed Mirliton
I always know when a recipe is a hit when I go to the refrigerator and find the leftovers have disappeared. Shrimp Stuffed Mirlitons is one of those recipes. I always get rave comments when served for friends or family and my family seems to find the leftovers before I do. Mirliton is a type…
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