One scoop of these beans begs for another. With the first bite of my Backyard Beans with tender chunks of Richard’s Pickled Pork, flavors burst and mix with red beans sweetened with the familiar taste of Louisiana sugarcane molasses. All cooked down into a thickly glazed finish, this meaty bean pot brings magical tastes to…
Baked Flounder with Spring Onion Gratin
As the heady scent of anise releases from the fresh tarragon leaves and perfumes my cheesy cream reduction, this spring onion gratin crusts over and forms the perfect platform for saucing my freshly filleted flounder. With each bite of the rich sauce coating the tangy onions and delicate flounder, this Baked Flounder with Spring Onion…
Shrimp and Mirliton Pot Pie
Every tasty recipe is like a roadmap to a new and undiscovered place. And this Shrimp and Mirliton Pot Pie is a unique combination of down-home Southern ingredients that is well worth the trip. Just think of it: Briny shrimp and farm-fresh vegetables cooked down in a thick, creamy filling and topped with a crispy…
Mushroom and Pepper Bread Pudding
Earthy flavors grab my attention and draw me into a dark and delicious place that I find spellbinding. Such is my fascination with mushrooms, and I forage for them in the wild, stalk them in the farmers markets, and am delighted when I see them in the supermarket aisles. I’ve talked before about finding the…
Jambalaya of a different color
Simmering down a black pot of rice infused with vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh aromatics, and garden-grown herbs punched with the depth of flavor of smoky sausage is about as comforting as South Louisiana food can get. But when those tomatoes are of the Creole variety, the sausage features the bold flavors of venison mixed with pork,…
Unbridled Brie Jammin’ with bacon
Crispy golden brown pastry on top, flaky piecrust on the bottom, and a velvet creaminess oozing mellow flavors spiked with the porky flavor of bacon—that’s my Bacon Jam Baked Brie — a down-on-the-bayou, French Louisiana version of a classic baked brie. Baking a round of brie cheese in pastry has been around for decades, and…
Shrimp and Tasso Mac and Cheese
This isn’t my first mac and cheese recipe, and I assure you, it won’t be my last. You see, I love how pasta noodles encased in a cheesy cream sauce is a culinary delivery for the spicy flavors of Cajun recipe ingredients like shrimp and tasso. It is this tasty combination that comes together in…
Boudin Quiche
Oh, I love it so. Rich, farm-fresh eggs from Gotreaux Family Farm’s hen house gently encases spicy, ricey Cajun boudin spiked with the holy trinity of vegetables, all neatly baked in a crumbly piecrust. This easy Cajun recipe is the perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner dish; as good when hot out of the oven as…
Cheesy Corn Casserole
Fresh-shucked and cut off the cob, this corn casserole is a masterwork of balance in taste and texture. A hint of Cajun spice plays against the sweetness, and the creamy cheese oozes texturally with the crunchy contrast of aromatic onion, bell pepper, and celery. But the real genius of this Cajun recipe is the lighter-than-air…
Mustard Quail Egg Potato Salad
In South Louisiana, you won’t find a fish fry, backyard barbecue, or even a steaming bowl of gumbo that doesn’t have a scoop of potato salad at the ready. It’s a Southern thing, and a familiar down-home southern Louisiana preparation is a mustard-infused potato salad. While this ubiquitous dish is expected and accepted, it is…