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…
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,…
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.…
These are the dog days of summer when appetites wane and sweating over a hot stove is the about last thing anyone wants to do. In other words, it’s salad season. Fill up the salad bowl, pour a cold beverage…
Makes 4 servings 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided 4 chicken thighs 1 cup water 2 pounds russet potatoes 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper PREHEAT oven to…
Makes about 16 tacos 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile pepper corn or flour tortillas shredded cabbage thinly sliced radishes lime…
Makes 4 or more servings 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 3/4 cup stone-ground cornmeal 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1 egg, lightly beaten 3/4 cup buttermilk butter cane…
Makes 4 servings 2 pounds turnip greens 4 cloves garlic, chopped 5 cups chicken stock 1/2 cup orzo 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to…
SHRIMP 1 pound boiled shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice 1/2 pound cherry tomatoes, halved pesto coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper lettuce leaves PESTO 2 cups loosely packed fresh basil 1/2 clove garlic 1/4 cup…
Makes 4 servings 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound) 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 cup chicken stock 1/2 cup white wine 2 teaspoons lemon juice 2 teaspoons capers, drained 2 teaspoons…
Serves 4 or more 1 pound small shrimp, peeled 2 tablespoons Cajun/Creole seasoning 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon finely-grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons…
Makes 4 servings 1 teaspoon butter 1/2 cup chopped romaine lettuce 3/4 cup frozen green peas 4 large eggs 2 cups whole milk 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Butter 4 10-ounce ramekins and place in…
Gin & Tonic 1 slice lime 1 slice cucumber 1 large basil leaf 2 ounces gin ice cubes 4-6 ounces tonic water Place lime, cucumber and basil leaf in a tall glass or balloon glass. Add gin and press on…
Open almost any Louisiana cookbook and you’ll find a big section of dessert recipes, a testament to our love of sweets. The recipes often include both traditional and modern desserts. As tastes change…
Louisiana has an abundance of official symbols (the state doughnut is the beignet, the state crustacean is the crawfish and the state vegetable is the sweet potato, for example), but I only recently learned that we even have an official…
Parsnips In Butter 1 pound parsnips 3 tablespoons unsalted butter coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 tablespoons chopped parsley Peel parsnips and trim ends. Cook in boiling salted water until tender. Drain. Cut the thick sections…
It’s hard to imagine Thanksgiving and Christmas without sweet potatoes on the table. They appear in a variety of guises — candied, gussied up with marshmallows, turned into soups, casseroles, breads, puddings and pies. They marry happily with holiday dressings,…
Eggplant With Garlic, Parsley And Parmesan 2 long, thin Asian eggplants (about 4 oz. each) 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 2 teaspoons chopped parsley ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus additional, if needed coarse salt and freshly ground…
Tip If your grill doesn’t have large spaces between the bars, you can cook the okra directly on the grill without fear of it falling into the fire. Otherwise, use a finer-meshed grill tray or basket on top of the…
Tip Use your favorite salsa, either homemade or commercial, for this recipe. Crema is a slightly tangy Mexican cream. If unavailable, substitute sour cream thinned with a little milk or cream. It’s a tradition in these parts to take…
