Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Creole Summer Garden Sides + More Zydeco Fun

With local homegrown produce so abundant right now, I can't stop making these wonderful summer side dishes. They are very easy to make and can easily be converted into a main course, with the addition of cooked shrimp, chicken, or ham. They are fabulous and guaranteed to please your family and guests and perfect for your Fourth of July celebration. Bon Appetit!

Creole Garden Pasta Salad w/ Mustard Vinaigrette

8 ounces favorite pasta, cooked according to package directions
2 tbs.'s olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 medium yellow squash, diced
1/2 cup each,  green and red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup Creole cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 small can sliced black olives
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, chop the veggies. Place cooked and drained pasta in a large serving bowl.


 In large skillet, heat olive oil and saute onions, garlic, jalapeno, and bell pepper, for 5 minutes. Add zucchini and yellow squash, and saute for 3 more minutes. Add tomatoes and saute for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and add olives.


Transfer veggie mixture to pasta bowl and toss well. Make the vinaigrette. (recipe below)

Creole Mustard Vinaigrette

2 green onions, white parts only , finely chopped
1/8 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbs.'s Creole or Dijon mustard
2 tsp.'s minced garlic
3 tbs.'s fresh parsley, chopped
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. Creole or Cajun seasoning

In small bowl, combine green onions, vinegar, mustard, salt, and seasonings. Slowly whisk in the oil and mix well.  Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 3 hours. Top with Parmesan cheese before serving. Fab!

******
Creole Garden Veggie Rice

4 ears fresh corn,  grilled or boiled
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 cup Creole cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced, optional
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning

2 tbs.'s red wine vinegar
2 tbs.'s olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

When corn is cooled, cut off cob in planks.  Combine rice, tomatoes, onions, basil, and jalapeno pepper. Toss gently and top with corn. Combine the seasoned oil and vinegar and drizzle over top and sprinkle with a little more Cajun seasoning.  Heat in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes. This really makes the flavors pop!  Out of this world! 

For my Cajun Grilled Corn on the Cobb recipe,  click here.

 





Serve with my Spicy Creole Cornbread. Click here for the recipe.










I'll be sharing these at Tasty Tuesday's , These Chicks Cook, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, and Full Plate Thursday.

*******
And for a little more Zydeco fun, here's a little clip of Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express rockin' the crowd with his hit song, " I Done Got Over". One of Cajun country's favorite dance bands, they never fail to get you movin'! Give it up and let the good times roll, cher!



Hope that ya'll are having a wonderful week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

33 comments:

Rosaria Williams said...

All those veggies make my heart sing.

Eddie Bluelights said...

Ah! I'm here early this time - hope it has not ALL gone in 10 mins this time LOL

Mrs BC said...

These salads look delicious but I cannot wait to try Beer Rice! I have never heard of it before!
Also - I really enjoy your videos of various bands & people dancing, they really gladden my heart & bring a smile to my face.
xx

California Girl said...

Marguerite, are you writing a cook book? You certainly have a niche and the meals I've made from your recipes are always delicious.

Joanne said...

It's hot here on the east coast this week, so I'm liking the looks of that Garden Pasta Salad, so refreshing!

Do you have a garden, Marguerite? I don't think you've mentioned one, I wondered if you grew some of your own veggies.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

These dishes are so colorful, they just say summer!

nanny said...

Creole Mustard must make everything taste better....ha
It all looks wonderful.

Gerry @Foodness Gracious said...

Wow, great colors!! I like the sound of the spicy cornbread, Im a huge spice freak!
Thanks for sharing...

Kat said...

I just love this time of year when there are so many fresh foods to eat. That first Salad looks so good, I am going to have to try it. Thanks a bunch for all the recipes.

Miriam said...

I love me some zydeco! Great pasta salad :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Linda Starr said...

Just look at those beautiful vegetable colors, I love cold salads in summer, these look so delicious. And beer rice, hum, wonder if Gary will miss one of his beers. Ha.

Melanie Payne said...

Oh YUM!!! That looks so yummy! I love this time of year, my own garden is exploding with veggies. :)
Thanks for stopping by my blog, now following back! Glad ot meet you!
~Melanie

Marguerite said...

Rosaria- Thanks for your sweet comment and for stopping by! I love fresh veggies, too!

Eddie- Great, take double servings of each! lol That is your reward for being on time! lol

Mrs BC- Thanks so much for your lovely comment and for coming by!! So glad you want to try the rice and that you enjoy the music!

Cal. Girl- So good to hear from you! Yes, I am and thanks so much for the nice compliment!

Joanne- Thanks, so glad you like it and hope you try it! I don't have space for a garden, but I have a pool, instead! A must have, down here! :)

Karen- Thanks, I love all the colors, too, and find them so inspiring. Hope you try the recipes! Enjoy!

Michelle B said...

What a great, colorful, and fun round-up of super dishes! Would it be wrong to serve etouffee over beer rice? 'Cause I kinda feel the need to do that ;-)

Just picked up Horace Trahan's new album along with some boudin & coffee last week. That was a great morning!

And thanks for stopping by my blog!

Renee said...

Wonderful recipes! I can't wait to try them out. Thanks!

Bizzy said...

I am so into salads for the summer. This is different than my usual and I am looking forward to the change.

Thanks for enriching my salad repetoire.

Grandma Bonnie said...

Thanks for the recipe.
New follower from What's cooking Wednesday.
Hope you follow back.
http://grandmabonniescloset.blogspot.com/

jillconyers said...

Hi from a new follower. Love your blog! Thanks for visiting and following Blog: Life…as I see it [fitness, health and happiness]

Yum! The pasta salad looks delicious!

Marguerite said...

nanny- Yes, it definitely does, and I buy it by the case! It adds a lot of pizazz, for sure! Thanks, enjoy!

Danyale- Thanks so much for stopping by and for following! Love your blog and I'm now following you, too!

FG- Thanks and I'm so glad you like the cornbread and hope you give it a try! Enjoy and thanks for coming by!

Kat- I love the summer food, too! It's fab and I hope you do! And thanks so much for trying the grilled shrimp. Glad ya'll enjoyed it!

Miriam- So glad you like the clips! It's so much fun to dance to! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Linda- Merci for your sweet comment, cher! Hope you try the rice. I don't think he'd miss it a bit, after eating the rice! :)

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I need a new recipe for the 4th. Think I'll try to first pasta dish. Sounds better than my old one. I love it, but always lots left in the dish on the pot luck table.

Drick said...

you are so right, I love this time of year with all the fresh veggies ... and I love that beer rice, along with the pasta & veggies with the mustard dressing, oh my goodness... I am still marveling over the veggie rice with all those jalapenos....

Rita said...

Bonjour,
Comme c'est beau ici! I come from Ardent+Epicure and I will stay around. Great photos.
Rita

Gypsy Heart said...

OH my word!! I love all of these...and can't wait to try the beer rice. That's one I've never heard of. You are such a fabulous cook! How do you do it in all this heat & humidity? My kitchen is almost closed ~ :-)

xo
Pat

Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

What a great way to use up the summer veggies. That salad looks awesome. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Katie

KB and Whitesnake said...

Looks delish! We'd love you to share your recipes with us at

Simply Delish Saturday

Velva said...

Everything looks so good! The pasta salad with the Creole mustard vinaigrette really caught my attention.

Hope you are staying cool in this very hot summer.

Velva

GYPSYWOMAN said...

oh, yeah, love me some jivin' music! and then, there's all that jivin'-good food! where to start! where to start - i'm on sensory overload, girl! and listen, do ya'll do "hot water cornbread" instead of hushpuppies? we grew up on hot water cornbread with lots of summer meals - and winter ones too, like with a big pork roast and lima beans - anyway, have meant to ask about hot water cornbread - just divine with fried okra and pork chops and fresh ripe tomatoes or anything else! ya'll have a rip-roarin' good time weekend! been missin' my time down here!

Jessica | Cajunlicious said...

I am drooling over that cornbread. YUM! Have a great weekend!!!

Marguerite said...

Melanie- Hi and welcome! Thanks, you are so lucky to have your own garden. You're welcome and thanks for stopping by and for following back! It's nice to meet you too!

MM- Merci for the sweet compliment, cher! It's perfect with etouffee and I hope you try it! What a great combo! That must have been awesome!

Renee- Thanks, so glad you like the recipes and want to try them! You're welcome and thanks for stopping by!

Bizzy- I love salads, too, especially in the summer. Thanks, so glad you like them and hope you give them a try! You're welcome!

Grandma Bonnie- Hi and welcome! You're so welcome! Thanks a lot for coming by and for following! I am now following you back!

Jill- Hi and welcome to Cajun country! You're welcome and thanks so much for coming by and following me back! Thanks, I love your blog, too!

Magic of Spice said...

Fantastic summer recipes! I have to try that Creole garden rice...delicious :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for linking up your recipe at Cast Party Wednesday. I hope you come back tomorrow and share some more of your awesome recipes!
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!

April @ The 21st Century Housewife said...

I love the look of this wonderful Garden Pasta salad with all it's lovely summer veggies. The vinaigrette sounds delicious too, with lovely piquant flavours. Thank you for sharing it with Let's Do Brunch.

Anonymous said...

Much too hot to heat the kitchen here in Texas as well.....salads and slow cooker recipes a must.

FYI - I ordered and received the Clifton Chenier CD Out West (Amazon)- it's great; especially the fast and jazzy songs. Thanks for the recommendation!

Judy/Texas