Sunday, August 16, 2009

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!

12 comments:

Kora Bruce [Dixie Lust] said...

Just from the looks of the jalapeno cream sauce, Im guessing I could put that on anything and evvvvverything. It looks delish!

Glad to hear you had such a great time!

Jeni said...

Gosh but that food looks and sounds so darned good but I live with a family that seem to be very much on the wimpy side where spices are concerned. Well, my daughter here will eat spicy stuff but her husband, his 17-year-old daughter too -not so much. Plus he will not touch shrimp or scallops or pretty much any kind of seafood except occasionally, some fried fish and then, it has to be bland, bland, bland which to me is boring, boring, boring! I'm so glad my kids grew up experiencing my spicy cuisine and for the most part they like it but then there's the two little grandkids who I do believe could and would live solely on mac and cheese if they had their druthers. (Which they pretty much do because we generally have some kind of mac and cheese on the table for almost every meal so as to be sure there is something there that these two little yahoos will eat!)

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Oh honey, you knowI'm jealous of all the food you ate at the shrimp festival.I wish you would ask your friend to send me some Acadian spice = )

Talk about YUM!!!

I'm making chicken and sausage jambalaya tonight.

Eddie Bluelights said...

Delicious and Nutricious! AGAIN Youare always eating and drinking! You should be like the side of a house by now!! - you seem to be partying all the time! Do you ever stop? Have you got dancing shoes on all the time like the famous red shoes in the ballet. I am exhausted! Slow down girl!! I've got a bad hip!! btw you did not answer my last question!! You cleverly went to a new post - are you avoiding me?
I have just done some poetry at my place - not romantic alas - to you I could write a sonnet but I have strayed again into humour with a very naughty and shocking giant carved in the hillside. See you soon. One day you will be dancing with someone and he shall say, "Hello, ma cherie - dou you not recognise me? It is I your, Eddie x
PS If this is all 'getting up your gander', tell me and I will be formal like all Englanders are supposed to be.

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Once again, living vicariously through you!

Vagabonde said...

I try not to read your entries on an empty stomach because I’ll get hunger pains. We went on a mini-trip and stopped at a Mennonite restaurant (in central Georgia) where everything was good and fresh – but no dancing!

Irish Gumbo said...

I could use a little Shrimp Jambalaya right about now...Marguerite, thank you for your kind words about my bro...he liked a good shrimp thang every now and then.

Marguerite said...

Kora- It was fun, but I think I've had my fill of shrimp, for while. At least until tomorrow! :)

Jeni- You should order some Tony's Creole seasoning, and add it at the table. That way, your whole family is happy. There is a link in my sidebar, where you can order it.

Katherine- You would have loved it! If I can find it, I'll send you some. Your jambalaya sounds good, cher!

Eddie- It's the Cajun way, cher! Eat, drink, and be merry! We celebrate the "joie de vivre" here to the max! And my dancing shoes aren't red, but leopard!

ellen abbott said...

Those shrimp cakes look fabulous.

I'm here, hat in hand, as I realize I never did respond to you sending me the Honest Scrap award. I did come look, thought I had said my thank yous, then last night for some reason I began to doubt it and sure enough...

I had recently listed my 10 things so I didn't do it again but I really do appreciate you thinking about me in this way.

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

Jalapeno cream sauce...Got to get to work on recreating that.

As always, love your blog. Selfishly, I would like to ask you to blog about your favorite French Quarter experiences (dining, lunch especially, shopping, drinking, anything). I have made 6 trips to New Orleans in the last 10 years, and am looking for a locals perspective...

any suggestions

Dave

Cloudia said...

Tres BON!

*Burp*

scuze me ;-}

Marguerite said...

Elizabeth, Vagabonde, Irish, Ellen, A Year on the Grill, and Cloudia, Thank you all, for your sweet and thoughtful comments. Cheers!