I'd like to think I'm a confident cook in the kitchen. Most of my recipes are sylized and look really good. Most of them take time, effort and imagination to create. But then there are recipes like this Creamy Cajun Orzo that just sort of...appeared in front of me. RELATED: Cajun Caviar I didn't really… Continue reading Creamy Cajun Orzo
Tag: cajun
Pork-Free Red Beans and Rice
I have a friend who doesn't eat pork but makes some of the best soul food I've ever had. Instead of using ham hocks or bacon in her greens and beans, she uses smoked turkey wings or legs. I started doing this as well and was amazed at the flavor. You get all of the… Continue reading Pork-Free Red Beans and Rice
Crab Stuffed Baked Potatoes
My cookbook collection is vast. It runs the gamut: eccentric, religious, homestyle, professional... Last year, I tried separating the shelves of my cookbooks by types of cuisine. There's French, Italian, Vegan, Paleo and Southwestern. I have rows dedicated to Texas and Oklahoma cookbooks. The top shelf is for my most prized cookbooks (Salvador Dali's, an… Continue reading Crab Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Creole Dirty Rice
Dirty rice is one of those dishes you'll get a thousand comments on. "My mom always made it with this" "It's best with sausage instead of ground beef" "You've got to use day old rice" "Cook the rice in with the meat, not in two pots" Dirty rice is a universally beloved Creole dish that's… Continue reading Creole Dirty Rice
Boudin Bites
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are two great snack nights in my house. Chips, crackers, dips, cheeses and tiny bites rule the world on those two holidays. I love making new appetizers and snacks for those two nights. Last year I made some pizza sausage balls and baked ham and cheese crackers. This year,… Continue reading Boudin Bites
Cajun White Chicken Chili
I've always called myself an honorary Cajun. I never grew up there, only visited several times. I had family that lived there: in Monroe and Alexandria. I've been to New Orleans several times (it's one of the best places on Earth). I like to think I know a little bit about Cajun cooking. I know… Continue reading Cajun White Chicken Chili
Cajun Caviar
When I was a kid, my mom, Grandma and I would go to this big event in my hometown known as Christmas Magic. It was kind of like a bazaar or indoor market for all things Christmas. You could buy Christmas decor, Christmas presents, and stocking stuffers. Every year, you could expect to see the… Continue reading Cajun Caviar
Crawfish and Rice Casserole
It's almost Mardi Gras!! Being an honorary Cajun, I try to make something for Mardi Gras every year. I've never lived in Louisiana, but I have family there (Alexandria) and my aunt lived in Monroe for a while when I was a teenager. I have a deep love for Louisiana and all of its people… Continue reading Crawfish and Rice Casserole
Blackened Chicken Sandwich
Dishes are piled up in the sink. Bowls are covered with hardened chocolate. Wrappers and boxes of baker's chocolate are piled up in the trashcan. It's holiday baking season and it's never been busier in my kitchen I spent the entire weekend melting chocolate and rolling peanut butter balls and tap, tap, tapping sprinkles onto… Continue reading Blackened Chicken Sandwich
Meaty Pinto Beans
Yep, that's the title of this recipe. Meaty beans. I found it in one of my old church cookbooks and decided to keep the vague title. These beans are packed full of, no shock here, MEAT. I even added more meat to the pot (tasso ham) to beef it up (no pun intended) more. I… Continue reading Meaty Pinto Beans