Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Pina Colada Bread Pudding + A Fab Cajun Dinner + More Bayou Blues

Here's another one of my family's favorite desserts that is just out of this world and will have you going back for more. Sometimes I like to make this luscious bread pudding in my slow cooker and eat it for breakfast with a good strong cup of Community coffee and sometimes I bake it in the oven. One bite of this decadent treat and you'll think you're in heaven, cher! It's the next best thing to being on a sunny island. Cest bon, cher! Enjoy!

Pina Colada Bread Pudding w/ Rum Sauce

1 (16 oz.) loaf French bread, (torn into bite sized pieces
1 (10 oz.) can frozen pina colada drink mix
6 oz. pineapple juice
1 large can, (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1/2 cup cream of coconut
1/2 cup flaked coconut
2 small bananas, sliced
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup light rum
1 small can, (8 oz.) crushed pineapple

In large bowl, tear bread into bite sized pieces. Place the next 8 ingredients in blender, and blend until smooth. Stir in the crushed pineapple. Combine mixture with the bread pieces and stir well to coat. Place in slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours. Serves 8.

If you prefer to bake it in the oven, follow the basic recipe, and place mixture into a lightly greased baking dish, and then into a larger pan of water about 2 inches deep. Bake @ 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Top with whipped cream,  or if you want a little added touch of decadence, serve with my rum sauce. (recipe below)

Rum Sauce
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg yolk, beaten
2 tbs.'s water
2 tbs.'s dark rum

Melt butter in saucepan. Add the sugar, egg yolk, and water. Bring to a boil and cook on a full boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add the rum. Strain and serve over bread pudding. Bon appetit!

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A Fab Cajun Dinner

It was another great weekend, and I decided to reward myself for two weeks of sticking to my diet, by going out to dinner at Copeland's Restaurant, for a dear friend's birthday celebration. It was a perfect occasion to go off the diet and feast on some delectable Cajun cuisine. Here are a few of the dishes that we sampled.  All sinfully good! My darling daughter snapped these with her I Phone because I did the unthinkable and forgot my camera!

New Orleans Crab Cakes w/ Shrimp Alfredo Sauce over Angel Hair Pasta
 

Crab Stuffed Catfish Bordelaise


Red Beans and Rice w/ Grilled Andouille Sausage

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 More Bayou Blues

And the celebration continued over at Artmosphere Bistro and Art Gallery, in downtown Lafayette. The Bayou Blues Jam was already in progress, when we arrived.  Some of my old pals from Abbeville were on the stage, and jammin' down. My son's friend was tearing it up on the harp and singing the blues. Geaux Paul, Ronnie, and Jerry! Let the good times roll, cher!


Wishing ya'll a warm and happy week! Merci beaucoup for coming by!

24 comments:

Joanne said...

Marguerite, I know that in my last comment I told you about 6 inches of fresh snow. Today ... 3 more inches. Tomorrow into Thursday? 6-12 inches predicted! I won't be getting out to a restaurant any time soon, so I'll just dream with your photos :)

Susan at www.ugogrrl.com said...

new to your blog - I love cajun food. I look forward to learning more!

Susan www.ugogrrl.com

Rosaria Williams said...

You sure feed us well! Yummmmmm!

Nancy said...

I really want to make that bread pudding - tomorrow - but I'm afraid I would eat the whole thing. Wow, it looks just wonderful, especially with the rum sauce.

Drick said...

that is a sunny dessert, cannot imagine it for breakfast, sweet rolls are a bit too much for me in the morning but I sure would take a bowl of this after supper... love the food pics, that crab stuffed catfish sure does sound good

Marguerite said...

Joanne- Wow! Sounds like you're having a real, old fashioned New England winter! You could always grill up some dinner, if you could get to the grill! lol Stay warm!

Susan- Hi and welcome! If you love Cajun food, you're in the right place! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you'll come back, often!

rosaria- Thanks, my pleasure, cher! So glad you enjoy it!

Nancy- Thanks, it is sooo good and there is that danger of eating it all! But, it freezes well, so you could always freeze half of it for later. lol Enjoy!

Drick- Thanks, I love pineapple and coconut and could eat it, anytime! And yes, all of the food at Copeland's is "to die for", cher, but that catfish was excellent!

Pam said...

Wow! That bread pudding got my attention! It looks great but then so does the rest. Thanks for another great video. I always like them!

Linda Starr said...

A few weeks ago Gary and I went to a restaurant near Clearwater Florida and I had the best crab cakes so I know yours must have been good too, I also had a drink with some coconut rum in it and your bread pudding reminded me of that Yummy, I just love the blues, what fun. I might have to start taking my camera to the restaurants again. the first time I did that Gary was mortified, since that time he has gotten used to it. Have a good one.

Pooch Purple Reign said...

you are so consistently fun ! AND great recipes
~laura xx

Eddie Bluelights said...

That Cajun meal looks great to me - very appetising! Just as well your daughter had her I phone. Fancy forgetting your camera!! I used to but now never do! Never know what I might see. Great blues music as well.
You must be one busy lady!! . . . with all you cram into life LOL

GYPSYWOMAN said...

well, i can't be here long cause i've gotta have that bread pudding!!! oh, my goodness!! cannot wait to try it out AND the sauce!!! it just reeks FABULOUS!!!

those copeland dishes look divine, too! glad you stepped out a bit and let someone else do a little standing over that hot cookstove!

and thanks so much for the always delicious music, as well, lady!!!

hugs!

Magic of Spice said...

Oh my goodness just look at all of this...And this bread pudding, wow I have to try this one :) Wonderful!

kitchen flavours said...

Wow, your bread pudding sounds delicious! Love the flavours and the rum sauce that goes with it. Fantastic!

Gay Vaughan said...

Just reading your recipe for the bread pudding and my mouth is watering!! Thank you for linking to my party. I am definatly giving this a try over the weekend. I love bread pudding and this sounds over the top delish! Going to share this one on my facebook page.
~Gay~
itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com

Vagabonde said...

With these dishes you show on your post I can understand why Cajun cooking is so popular – it’s so very tasty. Thanks for showing us all your great cuisine Marguerite.

Arlee Bird said...

I have been craving bread pudding ever since I saw it on the menu at Prejean's. Never heard of it done Pina Colada style but it sound delicious. And those dinners! Aaah, crab cakes again. You are too much!

Did you see the announcement about Blogging From A to Z in April? You could do it: andouille to zydeco. Check out the link below.

Lee
Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011

Kittie Howard said...

Hi, Cher! Lordy but those crab cakes make me drool...couldn't get enough of them (and oysters, my supreme love!) in LA. There's a company up here called Phillips that makes a pretty good crab cake that I can pull outta the freezer. But nothing anywhere comes close to the goodies I've made from your recipes!! Including that sausage bread -- so sinful, soooo good! (Did I tell ya I'm a fresh bread freak?) Gonna ck out the posts I've missed and print away. Thanks for some suuuuuper recipes, video clips and good times! You're the greatest!

Marguerite said...

Pam- Thanks, it's really fab and I hope you try it. You're welcome, so glad you enjoy them! Thanks for stopping by! Happy weekend!

Linda- Thanks, so glad you like the bread pudding and the video! My family is used to me taking pics in restaurants, now, but at first, they were mortified, too. lol

Pooch- Thanks so much for the sweet compliment, cher! Glad you enjoy them. Fun is at the top of my priority list. lol Have a great weekend!

Eddie- Merci beaucoup,cher! I usually never forget my camera, so it must have been a Freudian slip! lol So glad you enjoyed the music! Busy is my middle name, these days. lol Cheers, mon ami!

Gypsy- Thanks so much for your lovely comment, dear La. lady and for coming by! So glad you want to try the bread pudding! You're welcome, cher, so happy you enjoyed it! Bon voyage!

Spice- It was quite a spread and a real treat! Thanks, it is divine and I hope you try it! Have a wonderful weekend!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Your dinner sounds terrific, but that bread pudding is calling my name. I'm inordinately fond of bread pudding and the thought of it with the flavor of a pina colada is driving me mad. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Blessings...Mary

Honey at 2805 said...

All sounds great and I so love desert! Your lates friend and follower. Hope you will stop by for a visit. I'm having a $30 gift card giveaway (ends Sunday nite).

Lisa said...

That bread pudding sounds so exotic. My mouth would go on vacation with this one. I hope you'll link this up to Sweets for a Saturday #2.

Meg Luby said...

oh. my. gosh.

HOLY COW! that bread pudding...wow

WOW!

i am making this as soon as possible. i am on a medically restricting diet right now that doesn't let me have alcohol but, once i can make that rum sauce, this is SO ON!

thank you for posting! love your blog!!!!!!!!!!
-meg
@ http://www.clutzycooking.blogspot.com
@
http://www.myscribblednotebook.blogspot.com

Miz Helen said...

Hi Marguerite,
I really like that Red Bean recipe with the grilled sausage. The Pina Colada Bread Pudding is very exciting. Just set all that good cajun food in front of me and turn on that good music and I'm there. It all looks awesome. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and please come back!

WendyLynders said...

OH MY MY.... I just posted a link on my side bar of recipes I need to try at my blog... www.calicobritches@blogspot.com if you want to check it out. All of your recipes look delicious... but that bread pudding is calling my name. I will make it and post on my wall linking back to you. I am getting behind on recipes I need to try. Blessings on the journey.