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I am really going to date myself with this post…but I am OK with that. When I was a little girl, on Friday nights we would pack up after my Dad got home from work and travel about an hour to one or the other Grandparents home for the weekend. If we went to Grandmother and Granddaddy Gleason’s in Minden, Grandmother would have supper ready for us upon arrival, consisting
Today is our annual Memorial gathering at the family cemetery in another parish about an hour away. After hugs and sweet reunions of generations who will have traveled from near and far... our immediate family will retreat to the 125 year old family home place close-by Last night I made the Orange Cranberry Biscotti for the express purpose of accompanying the several cups of
I love my porch-time with neighbors. When the days start heating up and evenings are sultry, that means it's time to harvest a little mint and make a batch of "Mint Julep Syrup" for Juleps to share on the porch. We placed first in a competition for a variation of this recipe...so you could say that it has a winning heritage. It's another mixer base you can make and
This past Sunday, our neighborhood experienced a wonderful thing. We came together for three hours… in the street… under a tent for a block party. We all brought food to share, plus it was byod (drink) and byoc (chair). Neighbors of every description converged to get to know each other a little bit better. There was even a young couple that had just closed on their house la
OK…you can’t serve your neighbors a beverage without being certain, beyond a doubt that it meets the highest standards…plus double and triple checked for quality control. That was my job tonight and good thing I had a rough week…it’s not for the faint of heart. We are having a neighborhood block party on Sunday with a Cinco de Mayo theme and I will be bringing this&
I Love Crawfish, Mudbuds, Crayfish...what ever you call them, there's nothing like hosting a crawfish boil (or going to one), hot, spicey, succulent crawfish...Mmmmm! We are approaching the latter couple of months of "Live Crawfish Season", which usually ends about June. But...coming up is the 30th Annual Mudbug Madness, a four-day festival held here
The home gardens, Farmers’ Markets and Grocery Stores are laden with options aplenty for fresh salads and assuredly they’re not always consistently the same items. If you make a habit of growing/selecting a multiplicity of ingredients to keep on hand from the six categories below…you will have a tasty, balanced formula for making interesting salad combinations that you may not have thought o
It's late and we have just returned from visiting the "Country Mice". You see our dear friends Michael and Contina live way out where signals refuse to roam and legends of "Big Foot" are absolutely plausible. All kidding aside... Neil and I, the "City Mice", escape a couple of times a year to spend time with our friends and just "be". Sit on the dock, fish, walk in the woods, tal
Friday nights and comfort food just go together... and you don't get much more comforting than mac and cheese. Tangystringycheesydeliciousness! Add a salad and you have a complete meal. One of our favorite movies is on..."Shawshank Redemption", so I better go. Y'all have a great one! Cheesyroni with HamYield: 8 servings Ingredients1 13.25 oz. box whole grain elbo
Today is Earth Day. A day to reflect on Mother Earth and how we can improve our stewardship...hopefully not just today, but make meaningful changes and habits that will make a difference beyond today. I have been trying to make meatless meals on Mondays believing it to be good for my health and hopefully make my footprint more positive here on Earth. Pla
Early on Saturday mornings… typically I will leisurely catch up on my recorded cooking programs while drinking the coffee required for all of that carpe diem stuff. Today was a little different in that I only watched part of one show. I love Alton Brown’s “Good Eats” and this particular episode was all about “Oats”. One of the featured recipes was for “Waffles” using…you
Busy week night wind down…time to chill out. Not feeling like spending much time in the kitchen, so “simple” is the word. This Smoked Salmon Dip is ready to serve in 5 minutes or less with the combined classic flavors of smoked salmon, capers, red onion, cream cheese and sour cream. That's it...5 ingredients and ready to serve in a jiffy, enjoy!Smoked Salmon DipIngredients8 ounces Crea
I am feeling the need to eat healthier, still be creative and without question...enjoy the taste of what I consume as nutrtious body fuel. This smoothie will fit all criteria and if you have the problem of getting veggies into your kiddos, this may be an option for you. Make sure your ingredients are very cold to start as processing will increase the temperature.
I feel very fortunate to be able to help organizations in our community. Recently my husband and I hosted a principal cast member from Shreveport Opera’s production of “Rigoletto” for 3 weeks. When departing, he left behind some well appreciated food gifts. Along with a gift of fresh pineapple shared by my Mother-in-law, I decided to challenge myself and create a recipe featuring
Don't judge. I was trying to efficiently use up remaining bulk garlic and create a recipe for a "Meatless Monday" meal for tomorrow. It all works fabulously together and is very tasty indeed. Even though there are 2 cups of garlic cloves in this soup, the roasting sweetens and mellows the flavor. It's not overpowering, but the old rule of thumb stil
I have quite a reputation for making Beignets that I serve at our local Shreveport Farmers’ Market. It doesn’t start until June 1 and lasts through the Summer. You wouldn’t believe how often I get asked when it will be and why don’t I have a regular venue. Everyone misses those sweet, (made from scratch) yeast dough pillows of goodness. There’s the standard Be
Last year, we were on a smoothie kick about this time and unfortunately we got off of it. It takes planning to keep items in stock to have enough variety so that you don’t get tired of them. I think that's what happened, but I do remember feeling much better at that time and even shed extra pounds. This one was a favorite and when I texted my husband that we were having
I love to lighten up desserts, this one is especially comforting in stormy weather like we are having currently and thinking forward to the calmer warm days ahead. A favorite beverage in the summertime is Pina Colada, so voila...behold the "Pina Colada Trifle". Hope you enjoy making and serving this to your friends and family as much as I do. Pina Colada TrifleIngredients1 Angel
The heat hasn't set in yet and won't hopefully for months to come. Who am I kidding...living in the South the temperature passed 80 degrees today, but it was cool enough this morning to have me thinking about soup all day long. I shared a soup recipe with you not long ago using frozen peas. The structure of this Curried Carrot Soup recipe is similar and you can create c
This evening, Neil and I shared our side porch with neighbors Lori and Bailey Baynham. I had prepared the Ruby Red Grapefruit Syrup in anticipation of creating a special beverage for the occasion and it did not disappoint. I made it as presented below (LoriTini) and also tried pouring the syrup into a champagne flute topped off with (you guessed it) champagne. Either way it&
I know you hate to waste food as much as I do and when fruit and veggies are approaching their end stages I get creative. Such is the case with making the Ruby Red Grapefruit Syrup which can be used to make this vinaigrette or the coctails I will share with you later this evening. Salad with Ruby Red VinaigretteYou can add this vinaigrette to any favorite salad. As in
It's been a long week and we're going to have a quiet evening with one of our favorite television shows and a quick supper. I have to go to work early in the morning (Saturday) to help with a special event and I'm wanting something fast, comforting, and light but hearty. Breakfast for supper or breakfast for breakfast...these sweet potato
When I was a girl growing up in the South in the 60's and 70's...it seemed quite common to have Salmon Croquettes... often, but from Salmon out of a can. When I find it (fresh) on sale or entertain using a filet and have leftovers...one of my favorite ways to repurpose it is to make Croquettes. This version is one that packs quite a flavor punch using both honey and mustard.&
It's Good Friday morning, out of bed at 6 (yes I know)... and after being up for awhile checking email and news, I wanted something substantial, but healthy for breakfast. Except for grocery shopping late last week for a dinner party... it had been a bit since I had shopped, so ingredient options were limited. Luckily it all came together.
Necessity IS the "Mother of Invention". I needed not to have bought so many limes for what was required in a recipe... but they were only available in none or beaucoup, so what to do? Also, it's getting to be the time of year when we yearn to be outside grilling, gardening or having sand between our toes. Nothing goes better with the latter, du
This morning I walked out of the house in a hurry on the way to work... without a jacket, sweater or anything...arms exposed and chilly. I thought it was supposed to warm up, so I wasn't that concerned. It did not! I was cold all day and wanting something warm and comforting for dinner. Soup came to mind and in particular a soup that I had made for our Down
?Who knew you could make Irish Cream? It's a cream liqueur that we all have added to our coffee or sipped in front of a crackling fire. I have forever been a fan and when I started running across recipes that seemed relatively simple... it was on. I found several interesting ones and after getting home this evening began searching out the ingredients. Not in
Colcannon is a tradition Irish dish made from mashed potatoes and kale or cabbage, cream, salt, pepper, butter and often ham or bacon. In a mood to repurpose leftover "Greens", I thought I would make Colcannon and "Dixie it up a bit". I had previously cooked a pot of combined turnip and collard greens...spiked with smoked ham. If you do not have access to
I love our neighborhood... and this afternoon, several of us gathered in our home to continue preparations for our next block party coming up in May. Historically there have been decades of such gatherings and generations of Glen Iris South Highlanders that have participated. Many of us that now live in this neighborhood grew up in oth
First SteepWe Southerners LOVE our liqueurs and if you can make it yourself, even better. Growing up, my parents made wine, my across-the-street neighbor made beer, I have dabbled in making other spirits...but this recipe is truly a cinch.4 Pears2 cups Brandy (Generic)2 cups Sugar2 cups Water Wash and chop 2 pears, discarding seeds and core. Place in a sealable glass jar, cov
There has been a longstanding - some say New Orleans… some say Louisiana… some say Southern tradition of making Red Beans and Rice. In years gone by when Monday was “Wash Day”, Red Beans were slow cooked on the stove using the ham bone left from Sunday's dinner while washing clothes. It seems like every day is “Wash Day” at my house. We all work can to can’t and then some
We had reservations tonight for the first seating (at 2Johns, one of our favorite restaurants) for our Valentine’s Day dinner. Afterwards it was still early enough to enjoy the evening, so I wanted to make something special and naturally...chocolate for my Valentine. Both my husband and I had generous portions at dinner, so a cup of “Hot Chocolate for Lovers” was just the ticket for a
We love our leisurely Saturday morning coffeetime... reading the newspaper, catching up on emails and watching (my) recorded cooking shows. It's no effort to mix up a batch of biscuits, either plain or with the cheddar and fresh thyme that is in this recipe. Eating them buttered and just out of the oven is the best...and even better with homemade Stra
?? Mardi Gras Veggie MedleyThis past weekend we enjoyed having my husband Neil's sister and family come join us for some Mardi Gras revelry. Margo, Lea and Anne arrived Friday and since it was a work day I had decided to put a roast in the slow cooker (10 hours) for the evening meal. (Larry arrived on Saturday but sadly... missed this meal.) Also present to enjoy were
????? Herbed Lemon Roasted Chicken I have been dreaming of roasted chicken for weeks... so on this slow Winter Sunday afternoon, I will prepare one for tonight's dinner and practice for an upcoming family gathering next weekend. Many cooks pride themselves on having their own version of Roasted Chicken to make as often as demanded by their loved ones.
?? ?Summer Giardiniera????????"You can savor the goodness of summer's bounty all year long." -cgj In making this recipe, most of your time is spent in prepping the vegetables.I actually started washing, slicing and chopping the evening before on a weeknight and completed the canning the next evening. Just refrigerate after prepping until ready to can.
&nbs
Mussels LouisianePhoto credit: Susan Kirton?Much of our culinary heritage in Louisiana has been influenced by the French. Julia Child adapted French cuisine for mainstream Americans and started a revolution with her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking which was released in 1961. It has become a standard for those interested in classic cooking methods,
OK, I gave in. It's August and 100+ outside here in the South (and Humid), but I wanted chicken... with a lemony, garlicky, smokey flavor, after work on a Tuesday evening. I have never attempted to smoke meat before, let alone on my gas grill...but, I am hardheaded and was resigned to figure it out. I had already searched out wood chips during lunchtime, so all I&n
We are all conscious about being frugal and not wasting food these days. A New Years tradition for us is to always have Blackeyed Peas, Cabbage or Greens and Cornbread... but a family trip immediately following created a scenario for more than usual leftovers. I have repurposed the cabbage for a delicious soup (will post recipe at a later date), but decided that the
Our office Thanksgiving luncheon is today. Last week I signed up for Potatoes Gratin which I adore making and everyone loves. Well over the weekend I forgot about today being the day and even if I had remembered… used the potatoes in another recipe for a family dinner last night. Uggg! What to do, what to do. I went to the store trusting that I could figure it out the
For the occasion of a bridal shower I co-hosted for my sweet friend Saige Wilhite, I decided to create a special sugary item instead of a cake or petit fours. In early shower planning meetings, Saige shared with Libby Andress (co-hostess) and myself about her wedding colors and Fall theme. After much consideration, I ran the pop idea by Saige and she loved it.&
This past Saturday makes year number four for daughter Sara to participate in the local Zombie Walk, benefiting the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank. This year she was a Survivor… ...last year, and the 2 years before, a Zombie.I have to admit, I’ve never been one to stay in the room when the channel was “accidentally”, or maybe on purpose, switched to the featured Zombie mov
Background - As with many of you (probably), when someone in our office is out… a co-worker fills in as a vacation buddy until they return. Usually too, the one vacationing brings back the buddy a little something in appreciation. Last week I was Lisa Wellborn’s buddy and she brought me back a very nice Mexican vanilla. Right away I began thinking about making Mexican coffee
My family loves granola. I love it too, but not the price. I’ve thought for a long time that I could make it as good as or even better than what we have available at the grocery store and probably for less. Well, last night I decided to put it to the test, but sorry to say that my data is incomplete and can't make the call on whether or not it’s cheaper because… we ate it be
We love our River City Repertory Theatre, a professional theatre company blending the best of local, regional and national stage actors through it's membership in Actors' Equity. When asked to host a cocktail party for RCRT we were thrilled to take part. The long awaited event was held last evening. As part of the staging...dress forms with costumes from previ
Well it finally got here...Football Season. One of my favorite entertaining canvases is a televised football game where friends and family gather to support "our" teams...the New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers. Last night was the first regular season Saints game, against the Packers. Despite the loss... Neil, Sara, all of our walking buddies and I had a big time cheering
So what does Coq au Vin have to do with being Southern you ask? Well in Louisiana...everything. We have a rich food heritage from many different cultures, especially the French. Don't let that word scare you, it's not hard and worth the time to create a special meal just for your family. One day I will modify this recipe for the crock pot (or you can), so it
Welcome to my new culinary venture. A journey - blogging about one of my favorite things...food. I promise to post at least once a week and that the content will be relevant and interesting. I like to learn and create new recipes, new takes on "the usual". So come along, stay hungry and you will be fed too!Cindy
