A Cool Summer Lunch + Bayou Blues

It's been hotter than hot in Cajun country and one of the only ways to beat the heat is to hang out at the pool and eat and drink cool treats. Here's a recipe for my favorite chicken salad that is out of this world! My family loves to eat this salad on mini croissants and they are great for any type of gathering, too.  Cest bon,cher!

Marguerite's Chicken Salad 

 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
1/2 cup light mayo
1/4 cup Creole or Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. prepared horseradish
1 small red onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
1 tbs. sweet pickle relish
1 tsp.Cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Salt to taste
Lettuce and tomatoes
1 dozen mini croissants

Combine all ingredients in large bowl, mix well, and chill until ready to use. Place salad in serving bowl and serve with croissants and a platter of lettuce and tomatoes.

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And what could be better than a platter of fresh fruit with a heavenly fruit dip. Fab!

Pina Colada Dip

1 pkg. instant coconut pudding mix
3/4 cup light whipped topping
1 cup skim milk
1 shot rum
1 cup crushed pineapple

In large bowl, mix with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Arrange cantaloupe, strawberries, and pineapple chunks on a round platter and fill dip bowl and place in center. These are my three favorite fruits, but you could use any fruits that you like.
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And to drink, why not make up a pitcher of this fabulous lemonade sweet tea.

Lemonade Sweet Tea

2 family-size tea bags

3 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
4 cups cold water
1 small can (6 oz.) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
Lemon slices and fresh mint sprigs for garnish

In 2 qt.saucepan, bring the 3 cups of water to a boil.  Remove from heat, add tea bags, and steep for 10 minutes. Discard tea bags and stir in sugar and stir until dissolved. Pour into a 3 quart pitcher and stir in lemon concentrate and cold water and mix well. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint sprigs. I also like to spike this tea up in the evening with a little bourbon, for dinner guests. So refreshing and thirst quenching! Enjoy!  (photos courtesy of Google)

I will be sharing these at Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesdays,
These Chicks Cooked, Let's Do Brunch, Garden Variety Wednesday,
Full Plate Thursday, Food Lover's Blog Hop, Fresh Food Friday,

and Simply Delish Saturdays.

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Bayou Blues

I've had a special request for some more bayou blues, so here's a little clip of a bayou blues jam that I took at Downtown Alive, in Lafayette. The fabulous Keith Blair and Marty Christian, on guitars, were really getting down. Grab yourself a cold one and crank it up for this one, cher!

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