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…
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…
Cream of Cauliflower, Garlic and Fennel Soup with Goat Cheese Crouton
These days, home cooks are moving toward freshly prepared, light, and healthy dishes. However, Louisiana cooks don’t always follow conventional wisdom. This time of year, you are just as likely to see a hearty etouffée or a platter of steak, rice, and gravy on the dinner table. But with my Cream of Cauliflower Soup, you can…
Mirliton Dressing
This flavorful casserole featuring pork and beef combined with mirliton squash does double duty as either an entrée worthy of the center of the table or a buffet side dish. This perfectly balanced combination has just the right level of aromatics, herbs, and spices to bring your guests back for another spoonful. Mirliton is an…
Blue Plate Corn on the Cob
In the South, sweet summer corn is a long anticipated signal that the seasons have finally shifted culinary gears. And by the time the Fourth of July rolls around, it’s time for my Blue Plate Corn on the Cob. On or off the cob, not a Sunday dinner goes by that corn isn’t somewhere on…
Lard of the Rings: Crazy-Crisp Cajun Onion Rings
For me, onion rings are a weakness bordering on obsession; a perfectly fried o-ring is a thing of beauty. When dining out, I order them constantly and will even pay a couple of bucks more to substitute onion rings for fries. While some are good, and others just acceptable, I am mostly disappointed. Even at…
Mushroom Soup
Rich, intense flavors explode in your mouth with my Mushroom Soup recipe. As a side dish or soup entrée, this one delivers a wallop of taste. It goes without saying that I’m a meat-lover, but from time to time, my wife requests an all-vegetable dinner. Okay, I’m in. But with bold and meaty flavors, my…
White Beans Supreme with Ham Shank, Tasso and Smoked Pigtails over White Rice
Every once in a while, I like to get back to basics like my recipe for White Beans Supreme. It’s a simple Cajun recipe with easy preparation and satisfying results. It’s no-fuss, home-style, comfort food that is heart-warming and sticks to your soul like white on rice. Beans and rice are a staple of every…
Potato and Broccoli Soup
This Potato and Broccoli Soup is easy, cheesy, creamy, dreamy, and just about the most delicious bowl around. If you’ve ever made mashed potatoes, you’re half way to one of the tastiest soups. All we’re doing here is adding aromatics, spices, chicken stock, and cream, oh, and broccoli. Yeah, it’s the fresh florets of broccoli…