Louisiana cuisine is a wonderful reflection of the world. We have, of course, our Native American roots which reflect the bounty of nature and human intervention that forms a firm base for our cuisine. The layers of food influences that…
As we leave the winter behind us, it is not only time to start thinking about flowers and lovely weather, it is a time to think about eating lighter and maybe even using the oven less. If we can open…
As we get deeper and deeper into Mardi Gras after January 6, and we spend more time at parties, at balls and at parades, we sometimes need a bit of help keeping up with the celebrations. Party fatigue is real.…
This year is the year to not go crazy worrying about holiday dinners and parties. This year, make the foods you love, that make you happy, and forget about being new, elegant, showy or impressive. I have taken the oath…
Sometimes things are hidden in plain sight. And when asked to describe those hidden things, it is always a surprise that someone not from Louisiana knows about them. That is what we will be exploring in these recipes — the…
It’s hot. There is no getting around it. So if you are water skiing or hanging around a swimming pool or out fishing, you probably want to have delicious meals without heating up the house. That means that it is…
Louisiana, ever resilient, has been been hit by a number of disastrous events in the recent past. There have been wildfires, floods and snow, on top of our usual hurricanes. But both the people and the landscape have been working…
Louisiana food is naturally surf and turf. We often stuff our vegetables with seafood and sausage or ground meat. We top a steak with crab meat or crawfish. No one has to cajole us into the special flavors that form…
This can be made with frozen blackberries that have been thawed. Using frozen fruit doesn’t seem to diminish the flavor of this cordial. This drink is so right in Louisiana. Whenever I drink it, I feel…
Makes about 8 servings 2 large eggs, separated 1/4 cup sugar 8 ounces mascarpone 1/2 cup cold, strongly brewed coffee 2 tablespoons brandy About 20 ladyfingers or the equivalent of sliced cake 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, coarsely grated IN A…
Makes 12 ears of corn 1/2 cup mayonnaise 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons cilantro, mince 2 tablespoons ground cumin 2 tablespoons olive oil 12 ears of fresh corn, shucked Salt and pepper for the table PREPARE you fire so…
Makes about 1 quart 2 red apples, such as Fuji (about 1 pound) 1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 cup whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons Calvados PREHEAT over to 350 F. Core…
Serves 4-6 1 pound dried Louisiana red beans 2 tablespoons bacon fat 1 medium onion, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 large ham bone with a bit of meat on the bone 2 cups ham, diced…
Makes 3 pints 1 1/2 pounds of small, fresh okra 3 large garlic cloves, peeled 3 bay leaves 15 peppercorns 1 cup distilled cider vinegar 1 1/2 cups water 2 tablespoons salt 3 pint jars MAKE sure that your jars…
Serves 4 to 6 4 tablespoons butter 1 bay leaf 1 large onion, diced 1 rib celery, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon thyme 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon cayenne…
Serves 4 4 filet mignon medallions Salt 1/4 cup whole black peppercorns 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 thyme sprigs 1 medium garlic glove, minced 1/2 large shallot, minced 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac 3/4 cup chicken…
Makes 1 quarter 2 pounds fresh Louisiana strawberries, de-stemmed and cut in half 1 tablespoon sugar 1 pint whipping cream 1 can sweetened condensed milk PREHEAT oven to 325 F. SPRINKLE the strawberries with sugar. Place the strawberries on a…
Makes 8-10 popsicles, depending on the size of your forms 3 cups fresh blueberries or cut up strawberries, divided 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 can (14…
Makes 4 servings 2 large yellow squashes, cut into halves Salt and pepper 2 cups of cornbread crumbs 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon cayenne 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese PREHEAT…
Makes about 40 cookies 1/4 pound unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg grated zest of 1 lemon 1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup blanched, finely-ground almond flour 1 cup…
Makes 2 to 4 servings depending on the size of the ribeye steak 1 ribeye Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons peanut oil or other high smoke point oil 4 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons rosemary leaves SELECT your ribeye. Salt and…
Makes 6 to 8 servings DRESSING 1/2 cup good mayonnaise 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon chopped capers 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1 teaspoon chopped fresh lemon balm Salt and pepper SALAD 1 pound…
Makes 6 servings SHORTCAKE 1 1/2 cups flour 1 cup masa 2 tablespoons sugar, more for finishing 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into a dice 2/3 cup whole milk…
Makes 4-6 servings 1 de-seeded cucumber, chopped 2 1/2 pounds ripe Creole tomatoes, chopped 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley, plus more for garnish…
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Forget about the Christmas table — I am all about Thanksgiving. When I was growing up, my parents always had the same thing for Thanksgiving dinner, but they also included Thanksgiving orphans. The orphans were…
Even though you have to prepare, having a holiday open house at your own home means that you don’t have to travel from house to house in order to see friends and family during the holidays. They will come to…
This is tailgating season — the time when we gather for football games. There are two ways to look at tailgating. Traditional tailgating takes place in parking lots and other empty spaces where people gather before games, professional and school…
Summer is a time when we go to the beach, take picnics on boats and in parks and above all, avoid heating the kitchen by baking or roasting! Even standing over a hot grill outside can be taxing for whoever…
There is nothing like the rich taste of beef steak. It is a treat when you eat it. And there are many classic dishes that have been developed to bring out its goodness. With classics, knowing what you like and…
Although everyone has their favorite places and their favorite dishes, there is really no place in Louisiana that doesn’t have good food. Let’s face it – Louisiana tastes good. My grandparents lived in Natchitoches when I was a child. And…
Although some people complain about not having four seasons in Louisiana, I still look forward to spring. I’m not talking about little birds tweeting and the breakthrough of crocuses in the melting snow. For me, it is about the food.…
Often listen to music when I cook. Lately, my choice has been “The Complete Million Dollar Quartet,” an impromptu jam session that took place at Sun Records in Memphis on December 4, 1956, with Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee…
As the holiday season approaches, we’ve already started making plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Those big family celebrations are wonderful, but we also look forward to small seasonal meals with close friends. Here’s a menu loaded…
Since ice cream knows no season, this is a good time to enjoy some of autumn’s fruits and nuts in frozen form. Pecans, persimmons and apples, three fall favorites, can be turned into delicious ice creams. There are an infinite…
The scientific name for the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) means “tasty (or savory) beautiful swimmer,” and that is a most fitting description considering how delectable crab is and how many ways it can be prepared and served. The sweet…
If ever there was an optimum time to become a vegetarian, it is now. With all the fresh local produce available this month, a person could make the change and not feel at all deprived. A visit to the farmers…
SPRING/SUMMER Spring and summer are the seasons seafood lovers look forward to during the cold, gray winter. Shrimp, crab, red snapper and redfish are some of the most longed for delicacies. Start dinner with crab cakes and then have red…
Other states may herald…
Mardi Gras is early this year, which is unfortunate for bakeries since they will have a short king cake season. For celebrants, the Feb. 21 date virtually guarantees the weather will be damp and cold. In addition to booze, parade-goers…
I used to say travelers know they have reached South Louisiana when hot boudin is available at roadside gas stations. That was once a reliable indicator, but I doubt that it still is. Fields of sugar cane and crawfish ponds,…
Kebab, kabab, kebob, shish kebob, souvlaki, shashlik or a variety of other terms refer to pieces of meat, poultry, fish or vegetables, threaded on skewers and grilled. “Jim Beard’s Barbecue Cookbook,” published in 1958, calls it skewer cookery. Whatever term…
Makes 6 to 8 servings 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 1 stalk celery, diced 1 medium carrot, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound split peas, picked over and washed 4 cups ham or chicken stock…
Makes 4 servings 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion, halved and sliced 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced 1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced 1 serrano pepper,…
Makes 4 servings 1 cup sugar snap peas 8 spears thin asparagus 6 large eggs 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon butter freshly ground black pepper PUT a medium-sized sauce pan of salted…
Makes 4 servings 2 cups red wine 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 2 large Bosc pears 4 ounces sour cream COMBINE wine, sugar and cinnamon in a nonreactive pan. HALVE, core and peel pears. Add pears to pan,…
Makes 8 servings CRUST 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter 4 tablespoons ice-cold water FILLING 4 large eggs, at room temperature 1 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup cane syrup 2 teaspoons…
Makes 4-6 servings 2 pounds butternut squash, cubed 2 medium onions, sliced 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock coarse salt and chipotle chile pepper to taste freshly grated Parmesan cheese PREHEAT oven to 450…
Makes 4 servings 1 pound boneless pork stew meat 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 1/2 pounds okra, topped, tailed and sliced 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice 1 cup…
Makes 4 waffles FOR THE CHICKEN 4 pieces of chicken 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1 cup all-purpose floor cooking oil FOR THE WAFFLES 1 cup all-purpose flour…
Makes 4 or more servings 1 pound whole okra pods Extra virgin olive oil Coarse salt COAT okra with olive oil and cook on a hot grill, turning it as needed, until okra is softened and browned all over.…
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