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…
Cajun Cracklins
I admit it. Cajun cracklins are addictive, I am a recovering cracklin’ addict and am now in a 12-step program on the way to enlightenment. Okay, so I am embellishing a bit. But, just a bit. Hear my story. I was first grabbed by the demon porcine pleasure at a later stage of life when…
Les Oreilles De Cochon – Pig’s Ear Pastry
I love hometown cookbooks. You know the kind I’m talking about. Not the glossy, full color, celebrity chef-endorsed titles that scream from the shelf of the big box bookstores. No, these are the quiet, little regional books–usually comb-bound with no photographs–tucked neatly in rows far from the main displays. These are the cookbooks that define…
Sugarcane-Glazed Spareribs
“Low and slow, son,” that’s what my daddy always told me was the key to cooking ribs. He’d fire up the pit on a Saturday morning and by the time the afternoon sun was setting, we’d be in pig heaven. Growing up in small town Louisiana, pork ribs–especially spareribs (my father’s favorite)–was the only barbecue…
Beef and Mushroom Pot Pie
Cooking meat in a rich red wine sauce is classic French and is equally common in French Louisiana. Cajun hunting camp cooks love to braise tough cuts of wild game and infuse the pot with wine and stock. The technique works with any number of meats and around Acadiana, beef is a natural. Boeuf bourguignon,…
Scuppernong-Glazed Bourbon Beef Ribs with Tasso Potato Gratin
I am a meticulous planner by nature as well as by profession. That attention to detail has served me well these many years, but truth be told, I’ve grown tired of it. It seems that as I’ve aged, I’ve let loose of the need to fastidiously program every waking minute of my life. Except for…
Chicken Braised in Tarragon Cream
French tarragon is an alluring aromatic herb, and when used with subtleness, it can turn most any humble dish–chicken especially–into a showcase of sublime flavor. But, I didn’t always cook with tarragon until one night I was properly introduced to a now-favorite recipe for Chicken Braised in Tarragon Cream. I recall dining years ago at…
Fried Softshell Crab topped with Crawfish Étouffée
Sadly, the Yellow Bowl Restaurant, an iconic Cajun café, closed for business last week. Today, my story pays tribute to this gem–a culinary shrine that will live on in the memories of many folks who live in Acadiana. Lately, I’ve gotten lots of questions from folks outside of Louisiana who want to know more about…
Shrimp and Artichoke Sauté
Take briny Gulf shrimp from the coast of Louisiana, dredge them in seasoned flour, and sauté them ever so gently in butter. Got your attention? That’s the introduction to my Shrimp and Artichoke Sauté, an easy one-skillet dish that is sure to become one of your favorite Cajun recipes. Add artichoke hearts and a splash of…
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