Taking a Break + Cajun Spice Giveaway

At long last, I'm off on my long awaited vacation. In appreciation of all of my wonderful bloggie friends, I am having a Cajun spice giveaway that will give the lucky winner a little taste of what Cajun Country is all about. Just leave a comment on any post, between now and Labor Day, and you will automatically be entered in a drawing to win this little Cajun lagniappe' package. Winner will be randomly selected on Tuesday, September 8 and announced, shortly there after. Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to visit and to comment. Ya'll are the best friends that a girl can have! Meanwhile, let the good times roll, cher! Cheers!

Here are a just a few of the items that will be included.

An assortment of Cajun spices

An assortment of Cajun mixes

A Cajun apron

or

And a few more suzzies and surprises !

I will be posting a photo or two along the way!

Have a wonderful , fun week, everyone!

A Fabulous Cajun Birthday Lunch!

Since I will not be in town for my birthday, this year, my darling daughter took me out to a special, early birthday lunch. We went to Bonnie Bell's Bistro, in downtown Lafayette, for a bit of Cajun gourmet dining. It has a nice, cozy dining/ bar area and is a very popular lunch spot.

This wonderful little Bistro has a fantastic menu that will please even the most discerning of palates. We took our time studying the menu and had a nice glass of wine, while we caught up on each others lives. The crab cakes caught my eye, as did the crab salad. I wanted to keep it light!

We decided to split an appetizer, before ordering an entree. The appetizer that we chose was the Lump Crab Salad w/ corn, black bean, avocado relish, served with blue corn tortilla chips. It was out of this world with a zesty lime dressing.


It was a hard choice, but I decided to order the Jalapeno Crusted Yellow Fin Tuna. This succulent dish was served on a bed of fresh avocado, tomato, and mozzarella. What a wonderful start to my, one week long, birthday bash!

She presented me with a lovely gift certificate to one of my favorite stores and with one of the most beautiful birthday cakes that I have ever seen. She is the most wonderful daughter that a mother could hope for. And my dear son will be taking me out to dinner, for some sinful Cajun seafood. Now you understand why I had to eat a light lunch! Let the good times roll, cher!

Cajun Fun on The Levee- Part II

After having a blast at Turtle's, it was time to start heading over to the camp, since we had just a few hours left, before dark. We rode on the levee and headed over to McGee's Landing to pick up a few supplies. I bought a few vintage postcards in the lovely gift shop, and we went outside on the deck to view the beautiful swamp before going to the camp. There were boaters coming in from a day on the water.

When we arrived, family members were already there and were grilling up some pork chops, sausage,  and bbq beans. We were starving, at this point, and dove into this fabulous spread. Then I made a big batch of Banana Coladas and we played bouree', for a while.

Then it was time for a little music and dancing. Someone had brought a few Lost Bayou Rambler's CD's and cranked up the sound system, for a few hours of Cajun dancing. The Lost Bayou Ramblers have that old time Cajun sound, with a youthful flavor. Here is a little sample of their fabulous style at the Zydeco Festival in New Orleans, this summer. Enjoy!
Let the good times roll, cher!

Marguerite's Hot & Spicy Jambalaya

When my dear cousin called and said she'd like to stop by, after work, she mentioned that she was hungry for some of my chicken and sausage jambalaya. Suddenly I was having company for dinner in one hour, so I had to hustle, to pull it off. I scrambled through my kitchen cabinets to see whether or not I might have one of those delicious "Louisiana Brand" jambalaya mixes that you just add cooked meat or seafood to, and in just 20 minutes, VOILA', you have a fabulous hot and spicy chicken and sausage jambalaya! And your guests will never know that you used a mix! Cest bon, cher!
 

Luck was with me when I found one, way in the back of the cabinet. This wonderful time-saver mix has all the spices that you need, right in the mix and even includes the rice. I highly recommend this mix, because it delivers a divinely delicious jambalaya. Just in case you can't buy it at your local grocery, you can order it here!
 

LOUISIANA Cajun Jambalaya Mix 7.5 oz

Marguerite's Hot and Spicy Jambalaya

1 lb. boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
1 12 oz. pkg. hot smoked sausage, sliced
1 small can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies w/ juice
1/2 cup each of the trinity, (onions, bell peppers, and celery)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 1/4 cups water
1 pkg. "Louisiana Cajun Jambalaya Mix"

Season chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning and set aside. In large heavy skillet, brown the sausage for 5 minutes on each side. Add the trinity and tomatoes and stir and cook for 5 minutes, scraping bottom, often. Add a little water, if needed. Add the chicken and parsley and stir and cook for 10 more minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Place water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add jambalaya mix, cooked chicken and sausage mixture and stir well. Lower heat and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes, then gently stir and place in serving dish, before serving. Serves 6.
Bon Appetit!

Serve with a big garden salad , French bread and Corn Macque Choux. Le Bon Manger!
 

Cajun Fun on the Levee + A Blast from the Past !

It was one of those weeks, in Cajun Country, where the need to escape to a peaceful place in nature, became an absolute must! A friend called and invited me to spend a night at their family camp on the Atchafalaya Basin. The perfect thing to get my mind off the fact that I had to re-schedule my travel plans, due to Hurricane Bill cruising the east coast. Not exactly the perfect beach weekend, there. Hurricanes seem to be attracted to me. Katrina hit ON my birthday, that year, forcing me to cancel a New Orleans birthday bash, that I had planned. Had to make do, with no electricity, and sleeping in my bathtub, on lots of quilts and pillows. I spend most hurricanes, locked in my bathroom, since it is the only room in the house without windows. I'm not complaining, as so many others were not so fortunate with that one.

We made the short 15 minute drive to Henderson and stopped for lunch on the way in for some succulent Cajun seafood. A fried seafood platter reminded me that this was a great idea. Nothing like fresh, fried catfish, shrimp, and stuffed crabs to put a smile on anyone's face. Oh, cest bon!

We then decided to stop in at one of our favorite little places on the levee, Turtles Bar, at Basin Landing. As soon as we drove up, I saw my friend, Perry, (the guy with the cowboy hat), on the porch. He lives in the area and knows the swamp very well, and he's as canaille as they come!

Here is the entrance to this little hideaway, where the ice cold beer is flowing and the jukebox is playing whatever kind of music that the patrons want to hear. Someone wanted to hear Credence Clearwater Revival, and sunk $5. in, so it was a blast from the past, from there. Oh, the life of a Cajun is oh, so fun!! To be continued.....
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One of my favorite, vintage, Swamp Rock bands! Enjoy!

Time for Cajun Music Awards & Festival !

Time to put on your dancing shoes for the 21st annual Le Cajun Music Awards and Festival, to be held on Friday, August 21st-22nd, at Blackham Coliseum, in Lafayette. The awards ceremony will be held on Friday evening and is sponsored by the Cajun French Music Association, (CFMA), followed by 12 hours of non- stop Cajun music, on Saturday, beginning at 9 am!


Two days of great Cajun fun, food, and music, and get this, all in an air conditioned environment, with a huge wooden dance floor, (woo- hoo) ! This event is an absolute blast, with Cajun Country's finest bands and musicians being honored, as well as playing at the festival. The CFMA was founded in 1984, with a goal of preserving and promoting traditional Cajun music, with the artists spanning several generations. Come on out and celebrate our heritage and immerse yourself in what promises to be a weekend of fantastic music that you will long remember.

 And one of my favorite bands to dance to, Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys, (my pick) will play from 12:45-2:45 pm. and have been nominated this year for the "People's Choice Award". This band is hotter than hot and injects traditional Cajun with a little Swamp Pop and Zydeco.

  
One of this year's nominees for "Band of the Year", is Feufollet, (my pick) who with their youthful experimentation have managed to bring the traditional sounds of Cajun music to a new level, ushering in a whole new generation of fans. They started playing together, locally, in their teen years, and now as twenty-somethings, are touring the country and the world .




And sometimes experience is the best teacher and one of Acadiana's legendary, traditional Cajun bands, Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold, will take the stage at 5:15 pm on Saturday. (my pick) Paul Daigle is nominated this year for "Accordionist of the Year". For more info., call (337-344-2494)

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You can see what I mean by HOT, here, with Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys!
Mixing it up for a crowd in Saulieu. Let the Good times roll, cher!


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And here is a little sample of le musique de Feufollet, (playing at the 2009' Albequrque Folk Festival). Their incredible, captivating tunes are loved by all who know them and help to keep the Cajun music culture going! Lassiez les temps bon rouler, cher!


Which one is your favorite?

Chocolate-Praline Cheesecake + Zydeco Zip

Here's one of my all time favorite cheesecake recipes. Totally decadent and divinely delicious is perhaps the only way to describe it! I had a few friends over for dinner last night and prepared this heavenly treat for dessert. The only problem with having a dessert like this around is the danger of eating a bit too much of it. I had to control myself, but I limited myself to just one piece. And as for leftovers, there were none, after my son and his friends came in and finished it off! Oh, cest bon!

Chocolate-Praline Cheesecake

Crust

3 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar

Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl and mix well. Press into a buttered pie pan , going half way up the sides. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for ten minutes and set aside to cool.

Chocolate Sauce

8 (1oz.) squares semisweet chocolate
1 tbs. butter
6 tbs.'s whipping cream

Combine all ingredients in saucepan and stir and cook over low heat, until melted and smooth. Pour half of the chocolate sauce over the graham cracker crust and spread evenly. Reserve other half for drizzling.

Filling

3 (8oz.) pkg.'s plain cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs

In large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and beat well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well, after each addition. Pour on top of chocolate sauce layer and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes, until slightly set. Cool and refrigerate for 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Praline Sauce

1 cup chopped pecans, divided
1 cup light brown sugar
1 small can Pet milk
2 tbs.'s butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine 1/2 cup pecans, with all of the ingredients, in saucepan. Cook and stir on low heat until blended and smooth. Drizzle warm praline sauce and warmed, reserved chocolate sauce all over cheesecake when ready to serve. Garnish with chopped pecans. Bon Appetit!! Enjoy!

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Zydeco Zip

One of my bloggie friends, who is one of the best dancers I know, wants to hear a little Zydeco. Here is a clip of one of my favorite Zydeco bands, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, playing at this year's Cajun Hot Sauce Festival. Let the Good Times Roll! This one's for you, Joe!

Cajun Shrimp Jambalaya + Festival Cook-Off

We had an absolute blast at the Shrimp Festival and especially at the shrimp cook-off. Imagine row after row of booths, all cooking their best shrimp recipe! And imagine being able to taste everything, too! I was in heaven, when I got to sample 6 different shrimp dishes, before I had to stop, due to being stuffed!

They were all fabulous, but two in particular really captured my attention and got my vote. These Shrimp Cakes w/Jalapeno Cream Sauce were out of this world! I got to know the guy who was cooking these babies. Here he is with his secret ingredient, Acadiana Spice, a new Cajun seasoning. That's the Jalapeno Cream Sauce in that big pot! Oh cest' bon, cher!

My other favorite was the the Shrimp Jambalaya which was divinely delicious and complimented the spicy shrimp cakes perfectly. So spicy and perfect! I drank two fresh lemonades with these samples, and then a bottle of water!

I finally had to take a break and take a walk down by the docks, where there was a nice little breeze blowing. After a little rest by the water, it was time to dance some of those calories off! Oh, the life of a Cajun is oh, so good!!

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Cajun Shrimp Jambalaya

2 lbs. small shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 stick butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 tsp.'s minced garlic
1 large (16 oz. can tomato sauce)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper or more
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Few good shakes Tabasco
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups uncooked rice

Melt the butter in a large heavy skillet. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery ,garlic, and parsley and saute' for 10 minutes. Stir in shrimp, tomato sauce and seasonings and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil. Stir in the rice, lower heat, and cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Turn heat off and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir gently and serve. Serves 6.
Bon Appetit!

A Cajun Plate Lunch + A Fais Do Do

T.G.I.F. and that means time for a great Cajun lunch. Getting off work at noon on Fridays, for most, is a Lafayette tradition. It's time to head over to your favorite Friday lunch spot and indulge in a little decadent Cajun cuisine. We decided to go to Pat's Downtown, where everything on the menu is sinfully delicious. Pat's has some of the best poboys in town, along with many other highly seasoned delicacies. For directions and to see the menu, click here.

Since we will be spending most of the weekend eating shrimp, at the Shrimp Festival, I decided to order something different, one of my faves and one of their specialties, Fried Catfish topped with Crawfish Etoufee!! Oh, when I tell ya'll that this is fabulous, then you know that I mean it! So rich and each bite just melts in your mouth. Served with potato salad, green salad, and bread pudding, it's a delightful way to start the weekend!

In case ya'll are wondering how we eat all of this rich, high calorie Cajun cuisine, without gaining a pound, here is how we do it! We dance, dance, and then dance, some more! Here is a clip of one of my favorite bands, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, playing for a fais do do (fay-dough-dough). The first dance is a Cajun waltz and the second is a two-step. Hope that ya'll have a fun and happy weekend!! Let the good times roll, cher!

Time for the Shrimp Festival ! + Nanny's Strawberry Shortcake

It's festival time, again in Cajun Country, and one of my absolute faves is coming right up! The town of Delcambre, La. will be hosting the Delcambre Shrimp Festival on August 12-16. Delcambre is known for it's shrimp and this fabulous festival salutes my favorite crustacean, the shrimp! They will be serving it up right and in as many ways as you can think of, boiled, fried, stuffed, in a stew, etc., etc.

And lots of great music to go with all of this great food, too. Wednesday and Thursday nights are family nights and will feature live music and specials on the carnival rides. On Friday night, there will be a fais do do, and dancing that will last into the night. On Saturday, Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin' Cajuns will rock the crowd and on Sunday, T.K. Hulin and Friends will take the stage, at noon, under the pavilion.

Also on Sunday, there will be the traditional Fisherman's Mass on the docks at 10 a.m., with the blessing of the fleet, followed by a boat parade. Come on out and get into the festival spirit for the first of many fun festivals coming our way. For more info., click here. Let the good times roll, cher!

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Nanny's Strawberry Shortcake 

Here is a family favorite that is so delicious that I could eat it everyday! It was my godmother's recipe and I have many fond memories of eating this heavenly delight over at her house on hot summer days. I like to bake the shortcake, which is really a poundcake, in the morning, which by itself is a real treat, with a good strong cup of coffee. But layered with whipped cream and fresh Louisiana strawberries, it becomes divinely delicious beyond belief! Cest bon, cher! 


1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
3 Tbs.'s water
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbs. lemon juice
1 lb. fresh strawberries, washed and sliced in half
Whipped cream

Cream butter and add sugar gradually and mix well. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add 1 tbs. at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, alternating with water. Beat the eggs lightly in bowl and add vanilla and lemon juice. Stir well and add to the dry mixture. Mix gently and pour into a greased loaf pan and bake @300 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Set aside to cool.

Slice pound cake into eight slices. Place slice on dessert plate, top with whipped cream, then fresh sliced strawberries. repeat. Bon Appetit! Serves 4

Honest Scrap Award + Bayou Boogie

My dear Cajun bloggie friend, Kora, recently presented me with this fantastic award . She is such a sweetheart and her wonderful blog,  Dixie Lust, A Guide to Charming Adventures
and Decadent Pastimes, is fabulous and filled with many unique Cajun tidbits and creative surprises. Be sure to pay her a visit soon and tell her that I sent you. Many thanks, Kora, for this honor! She says that I am supposed to list 10 random things about myself that my readers may not know, but since that is a lot easier said than done, I will offer my whole blog as representation of this part of the Honest Scrap. This award represents bloggers who speak from the heart and tell it like it is! It is my pleasure to pass this great award to the following 10 Honest Scraps. Please check them out, you'll be so glad that you did !

Jo at:) A Majority of Two
 Jeni at:) Down River Drivel
 Cal. Girl at:) Empty Nest Evolution
 Elizabeth at :) Elizabeth Bradley Fiction
 Expat at:) Expat from Hell
 Nancy at:) Life in the Second Half
 Owen at:) Magic Lantern Show
 Ellen at:) Stuff from Ellen's Head
 Mark & Jill at:) Welcome to Acadiana (The Daily Meaux)
 Laura at :) White Spray Paint

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Bayou Boogie

I had a few requests over the weekend for a little bayou boogie. This is a video clip that I took of one of my favorite bands, playing some good old bayou boogie, at Festival International. Enjoy!
 
Lil' Buck Sinegal and Friends

One Foot in the Ocean and One Foot in the Bayou!

One of my dear bloggie buds, who lives on the Eastern shore of Maryland, sent me the most fabulous photos of his adventures "down the ocean", this weekend. Ocean City, Maryland is a 10 mile barrier island, on the coast of Maryland, with 30 blocks of boardwalk, a beautiful beach, and lots of fun to be had, all along this stretch of paradise. Aside from Cajun Country, it is one of my favorite places to enjoy life. I will be going there soon, and when I tell you that I am looking forward to it, then you know that I mean it! I am dreaming about eating a Chesapeake Bay crab cake, and the beach, and the boardwalk, and all the fun that I'm going to have there!

Here is a photo of the crowd at the 36th annual White Marlin Open, which was held this week, from August 3-7 in Ocean City, at Harbor Island Marina, at 13th Street and the Bay. The winner, claimed a $1,000,000. prize and with the stakes this high, there were entries from all over the Eastern seaboard.


After all this excitement, it was time to celebrate and he and his friends headed over to Reel Inn for a few Heinekens. The bartenders could hardly keep up with this partying crowd. They were feeling kind of hungry and headed over to Fish Tales for a bite to eat and maybe a little more partying.


While waiting for their dinner, he got this great shot, at Fish Tales, of a group drinking a "Surf's Up", shots of Tequila X 4! What a party town, indeed! Looks like they might even be able to keep up with the Cajuns! Let the good times, roll, cher! Do you have a favorite party spot where you live?

A Cajun "Happy" Hour + Cajun Jalapeno Martinis

You all know the scenario? It's 5 o'clock and time to get off work. Happy time and time for happy hour! With over 100 places offering this tradition in Lafayette, it's sometimes hard to pick just one. But since today was an especially stressful work day and La Fonda's has such great drinks.... and you always run into old friends, there. La Fonda's it was!


We headed over there for few Mexican delights. La Fonda, has been a tradition in Lafayette, since the fifties and multiple generations have enjoyed it's special flavors. My high school boyfriend and I used to eat here on Saturday nights in the 70's. What memories! Back then, it was the only good Mexican restaurant in town, but after all these years it is still so popular.


One of the best parts of LaFonda is the cozy bar with caricatures of the patrons painted on the walls. And the bartenders are second to none. Their drinks and award winning Margaritas are fabulous and the drink specials are lagniappe'. The after work party continued with a round of cold Coronas and a few mixed drinks, while we went over the menu. I opted for a grilled shrimp over rice entree, served with mixed grilled veggies. It was out of this world!! Oh, the life of a Cajun is oh, so fun!! Did you have a "happy" hour today and what was yours like?


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Cajun Jalapeno Martinis
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1 1/4 oz. vodka
1 dash of vermouth
1 pickled jalapeno pepper
1 splash of jalapeno juice
Combine vodka, vermouth, and jalapeno juice in mixing glass w/cracked ice and stir well. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with jalapeno pepper. Hot and spicy! Cheers!

Cajun Delights Blogiversary Blowout !

When one of my readers emailed me and told me that I missed my blogiversary, my one year of blogging, anniversary, I had to go back to my welcome post and check the date! Sure enough, it was August 1, 2008'! Wow, how time flies when you're having fun. It's been a whirlwind of a year and somehow I've managed to post 135 times, which is a miracle, in itself, considering my work schedule. Lots of coffee, and I do mean lots of strong Community, plus the encouragement of my wonderful bloggie friends, is how I did it. I would like to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to visit and support through your kind comments. Your friendship and support is appreciated more than you could ever know! Merci beaucoup! In fact, this calls for a celebration!

I'm going out- on- the- town, tonight with a few girl-friends, and that will be a another post, but for now I'm posting my favorite recipe and video of the whole year. I will have a frozen daiquiri or two for ya'll! Cheers !!! Let the Good Times Roll, cher!

Creole Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

2 lbs. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 carton oysters, with liquid
4 tbs.'s vegetable oil
4 tbs.'s flour
1 cup each, onions, bell peppers, and celery
1 lb. fresh okra, sliced
2 tbs.'s olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can chopped creole tomatoes, drained
2 quarts of seafood stock or water
1 tbs. vinegar
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
2 tbs. creole seasoning
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup each, chopped green onions and fresh parsley
Salt and hot sauce to taste

Season shrimp with the creole seasoning and set aside. In a large heavy pot, on medium heat, make a light roux with the flour and vegetable oil. Stir constantly until roux becomes golden brown. (about 10 minutes) Lower heat and add the onions, bell peppers, and celery, and stir for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and garlic, and cook for 10 more minutes. Slowly add the warm stock or water, oyster liquid, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and hot sauce, and simmer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, saute the okra in the olive oil and vinegar, in large skillet for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the seasoned shrimp and okra to the gumbo pot and bring to a boil , lower heat and cook for 10 more minutes. Add the oysters, green onions, and parsley and simmer for 10 more minutes. Bon Appetit!

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Here's a little clip that I took at Whiskey River Landing in Henderson. More Cajun fun on the swamp ( almost got knocked down taking this one)

Cajun Crawfish Etouffee' + A Walk in the Garden

It was a hot, humid day in Cajun Country, which is par for the course, for August. But at least we are only in the low 90's with a few showers here and there. After that scorching heat wave that we had in June, July was kinder, with a lot more rain and lower temps. Perfect for growing flowers and healthy lawns.

I'm having my Dad over for Sunday dinner and started preparing, last night, just to get the entree out of the way. Crawfish Etouffee' is Dad's favorite Cajun dish and he calls it "coonass penicillin" because it has been known to cure more than a few maladies. (hangovers, sinus woes, and the common cold). With this fabulous recipe for Crawfish Etouffee', your guests are sure to ask for more! Enjoy!

Start with 1 lb. of (Certified Cajun) peeled Louisiana Crawfish. For those of you who do not have access to crawfish, shrimp may be substituted and is a divine dish in itself. And the combo of both makes for one sinfully delicious pot of stew. And if you happen to have any crabs around, throw a few of those in for good luck. Ca cest bon, cher!

Cajun Crawfish Etouffee'

2 lbs. peeled crawfish tails or
1 lb. peeled crawfish tails and 1/2 lb. each of peeled shrimp
and  fresh crab meat

1 cup each of chopped onions, bell peppers. and celery
2 tsp.'s minced garlic
1 can Rotel brand tomatoes and green chilies
1 cup of chopped green onions (divided)
1 tbsp. Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning
Salt and Tabasco to taste
1 tbs. of fresh thyme, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 cups of water or seafood stock

First, you make a roux.

5 tbls.'s butter
5 tbsp's flour

Season crawfish or shrimp with Tony's in medium bowl and set aside. Melt the butter in a large heavy pot, on low heat. Add the flour and stir constantly, until a light to medium brown color is reached. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and tomatoes and saute on low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add a small amount of water to prevent sticking. Add the water or stock, parsley, seasonings and half of the green onions. Bring to a boil, add seasoned crawfish, or crawfish, shrimp, and crab meat and stir. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Serve over cooked rice and top with the remaining chopped onions. A tossed green salad and french bread compliment the spice nicely. Serves 6 Bon Appetit!

Cajun Supermarket :: Your One Stop Cajun Shop!

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A Walk in the Garden

Late this afternoon I went for a walk in the flower gardens, and took a few shots of nature's glory that I wanted to share with all of you. The zinnia patch is really going strong, this summer.

Everything is doing nicely, but requires a lot of watering, when mother nature does not co-operate. The hibiscus are thriving, as they love the climate.

The mixed planters are overflowing, especially the petunias and the sunny cosmos.
Because of the bounty of nature, summer is my favorite time of year. What is yours and why?