Ever since renowned Cajun Chef Paul Prudhomme blackened his first redfish in the 1980s, you would think that all South Louisiana folks burn just about everything they cook. Not so. But just go to any wanna-be Cajun restaurant outside of Louisiana and you’ll see a menu full of these overdone dishes. Enough already. Or well,…
Shrimp and Asparagus Salad
There are vegetables that scream flavor, and then there are those that speak softly. Asparagus whispers. I’ve had a love affair with asparagus for many years now and continuously stalk the perfect recipe. I’ve eaten asparagus dishes in France, in Napa, and in many of the best restaurants on both coasts. I love them all….
Quinoa Salad with Louisiana Shrimp
I am a Whole Foods Market fanatic. Always have been. Many years ago, I trekked all the way to Houston just to walk the aisles of this foodie fantasyland. Then later, Whole Foods moved closer with the opening of the New Orleans market, and then even closer in Baton Rouge. My wife Roxanne teases that I…
Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad
Sunday nights are welcome. Rox and I stay incredibly busy most all week long, and now and then we enjoy just kicking our feet up and relaxing on a Sunday evening. It is those kinds of evenings that I stumble upon dishes and recipes like this simple Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad that otherwise would not…
Iceberg Wedge Salad with Buttermilk Blue and Spiced Pecans
There was a time, and I remember it well, that iceberg lettuce ruled the salad world. In those days, lettuce simply was iceberg – no options. Today, the varieties are staggering; mixed greens, micro-greens, arugula, frisée, romaine, endive, and on and on. Not only are the options endless, but it seems that iceberg has gotten…
Orzo, Shrimp and Kale Salad
Lately, I’ve seen orzo showing up on the Acadiana table of folks who didn’t even know it existed a few years ago. Cajun and Creole home cooks are a stubborn bunch who hold to Cajun recipe tradition more so than most cultures. But in my Orzo, Shrimp and Kale Salad recipe, this ingredient has made the…
Grilled Apricot and Herb Salad
Lazy summer days in the South are for eating light and this Grilled Apricot and Herb Salad keys on the freshest fruit and garden herbs you can source in a tasty (and healthy) combination. Time to slow down and enjoy life. Life is moving fast–too fast. It’s June already and it seems that May just…
Louisiana Seafood Salad with Creole Citrus Vinaigrette
It doesn’t get any fresher than this: Gulf shrimp and lump crabmeat combine with a zesty Creole dressing in this light Louisiana Seafood Salad with fresh coastal flavors. And it’s easy with this simple recipe. With the summer vacation season here, most of Acadiana has already packed up and headed east to white sand beaches–Gulf…
Blood Orange Salad
Blood orange. I just like the sound of it. A citrus so ripe, rich and juicy it bleeds flavor. It drips intense, acidic plasma that drains the life out of the fruit. Ok, so I’m dramatizing a bit. But, just a bit. These are orgasmic oranges with a bright and biting taste that begs for…