When I glance at a menu and see anything featuring rémoulade sauce, I’m salivating. Usually, it’s a straightforward shrimp appetizer served on a bed of shredded iceberg that in the hands of a cook that has their rémoulade repertoire figured out is well worth ordering. But recently I was astounded to find a spin on shrimp rémoulade…
Stuffed Goo-Gootz
At the first hint of cool weather, cucuzza squash starts showing up at the farmer’s markets and produce stands around Acadiana. Some folks are unfamiliar with this elongated green squash variety, but those in the know look forward to it every autumn season. Time for a Stuffed Goo-Gootz. For most of us, cucuzza is pronounced…
Okra and Tomatoes with Stewed Chicken and Sausage
Here’s the thing–okra is a vegetable of extremes. For the most part, folks tend to categorize okra as a “love it or hate it” relationship. It’s hard to be indifferent about okra. True Southerners, and especially good Cajun cooks, identify strongly with okra. But, even within okra circles there are those that love it in…
Stuffed Collard Rolls with Red Gravy
Just in time for New Year’s Day, these Stuffed Collard Rolls combine all the flavors of the South into one tight little package. Ground pork sautéed down in smoky bacon grease spiked with Cajun spice, infused with rice and black-eyed peas, and all rolled up in a flavorful collard green leaf. Sauced with tomato gravy…
The Italian Side of Cajun
There’s no appetizer more dramatic than an Italian Stuffed Artichoke in all its regal glory. Each tender olive oil-laced leaf holding onto a treasure chest of Italian ingredients, and all baked just long enough to meld those exotic tastes together. This simple Cajun recipe version makes a culinary statement and packs a wallop of flavor. I’ve…
Potato and Brussels Soup
Potato soup is friendly and familiar—just like that old high-school BFF that visits once a year. The recipe has become a comfortable (and predictable) interpretation of a thick and creamy bowl of pulverized potatoes loaded up with cheese. And yes, I love it as much as you do. But with my Potato and Brussels Soup…
Heirloom Tomato Sandwich on Sourdough with Garlic Aioli
With the crisp snap of the first bite of grilled sourdough, I can taste the dual combination of smooth goat cheese, and creamy garlic aioli as the intense juice of the heirloom tomato flows over my tongue. My taste receptors are in overdrive as the flavors meld together into my Heirloom Tomato Sandwich on Sourdough with Garlic…
Salmon and Shrimp Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Today’s fresh Salmon and Shrimp Salad featuring poached salmon and sautéed shrimp dressed lightly with a tart grapefruit vinaigrette is perfectly timed for summer. Like many culinary-focused Southern Louisianans, I enjoy delicious ingredients even if they are not locally sourced. Salmon is one of those. But in Southern California, having access to the best of…
Crawfish Baked Potato
I know many of you will agree that nothing goes better with a thick, juicy steak than a baked potato. I’ve been to the fanciest steakhouses in all the land and when it comes to the perfect side dish, I’ll order a baked potato–loaded, for sure–every time. Oh, I’ve tried the creamed spinach, the frou-frou…
Fire-Roasted Red Pepper Pimento Cheese
In the Deep South, pimento cheese is the mortar that holds society together. Whether sandwiched between two slices of white bread or elegantly stuffed in a stalk of celery, no Southerner worth his salt would be without a basic pimento cheese recipe. And my recipe for Red Pepper Pimento Cheese ups the ante with Creole…