Cajun New Year's Day Buffet

If Christmas is over, can New Year's and Mardi Gras be far behind? I just love to ring in the New Year with a New Year's Day buffet, filled with sinfully delicious Cajun favorites. And of course, a batch of my Cajun Bloody Mary's for those guests who stayed out too late on New Year's Eve. Here are a few of the delights that I'll be serving my family and friends on my New Year's Day buffet. All scrumptious, cher, and out of this world! Bon appetit and Happy New Year!!!

APPETIZERS

Creamy Crawfish Dip w/ Pastry Shells

 Easy Crab Stuffed Jalapenos

5 ounces cream cheese
3 ounces of grated sharp cheddar cheese
8 ounces lump crab meat
1 tsp. crushed garlic
1 green onion, chopped fine
juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt to taste
12 large jalapenos, seeded and cut in half

 
Blanche the jalapenos in a large pot of boiling water for about 30 seconds and plunge into ice water and drain.

 
Combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, crab meat,onions, salt, and lemon juice
in a medium sized bowl. Mix well.

 
Fill the jalapenos and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
Hot, spicy and delicious.

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Slow Cooker Creole Meatballs

 







Mini Crab Cakes w/Cajun Remoulade Sauce

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SIDES

Good Luck Black Eye Peas

Creole Shrimp Pasta Salad 

 Creole Smothered Cabbage

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 MAIN COURSE

Cajun Pork Roast w/Bourbon Honey Glaze 

 New Years Jambalaya

Cajun Fried Catfish Strips

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 BREADS 

 Cajun Crawfish Cornbread 

Nanny's Sweet Potato Biscuits 

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DESSERTS

 Pina Colada Bundt Cake 

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding 

 





  

 Amaretto Brownies 

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Wishing you all a very Happy New Year,  filled with love, and good times, and fun! Merci for passing by! Cheers, cher!

HAPPY 2015!!!

Cajun Christmas Eve Party Buffet

With only one week to go until Christmas Eve, I have been trying to finalize my menu for my Christmas Eve party buffet. I like to have an assortment of family favorites served in a casual buffet style and let guests help themselves whenever they choose. Here is what I have so far, and I'm sure that I'll be adding a few more along the way. Bon Appetit!

Appetizers

Crawfish Spinach Bread Bowl 

Spicy Sausage Bites w/ Cheesy Beer Dip

Spicy Cajun Shrimp Dip w/ Mini Croissants

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Spicy Creole Crab Balls

1 lb. lump crabmeat, picked over
1/2 cup crushed saltine crackers
1 large egg
1/4 cup mayo
1 tsp. Creole seasoning
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Creole or Dijon mustard
2 tbs.'s chopped bell pepper
2 tbs.'s chopped green onions
Vegetable oil for frying

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the egg mayo, Creole seasoning Worcestershire sauce, and Creole mustard. Add crab meat and mix gently. Add cracker crumbs evenly. Stir in the peppers and green onions. Form the mixture into 3 inch balls. ( I used a melon scoop) and place on a large cookie sheet and chill for 1 hour. Deep fry at 350 degrees for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and transfer to a serving platter. Serve with my Creole Tartar Sauce. Fab!

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(click on titles to view recipes)

Sides

Muffaletta Pasta Salad

Cajun Crab and Corn Casserole  

 Sausage Cornbread Dressing

Candied Sweet Potato Casserole

 Cajun String Bean Casserole

Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

And I'll also be serving my Cajun Ham w/Honey Mustard Bourbon Glaze, which may be baked in the oven or prepared in your crock pot. So easy in the crock pot and frees up the oven for other delights. Cest bon, cher, and guaranteed to please your family and guests.

And a batch of my heavenly Peppermint Martinis. Enjoy!



Hope you all are having a wonderful, fun-filled week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by! Cheers, cher!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS YA'LL

Cajun Pork Roast w/ Honey Bourbon Glaze + Bayou Boogie

Yes, it's hard to believe, but Christmas is less than three weeks away! Are you ready? I have been working on my menu for my Christmas Eve buffet and decided to add this scrumptious, melt in your mouth Cajun recipe that will wow your family and guests and have them coming back for more! And the bourbon glaze is out of this world, too, cher! Bon appetit!

Cajun Pork Roast  w/ Honey Bourbon Glaze

1 (5 lb.) boneless, center cut pork loin
1 tbs. or more Cajun seasoning
Few shakes of Tabasco
Few shakes Worcestershire sauce
2 cans chicken broth
Honey Bourbon Glaze, (recipe below)


Rub Cajun seasoning over pork and  and place in 13x9 inch baking pan. Roast at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Reduce temperature to 325 degrees and add broth, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco to pan, scraping any pork drippings.  Coat with half of the glaze over the pork and roast for 30 minutes longer basting occasionally. Add the remaining glaze and continue baking for 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 135 degrees. Let stand for 10 minutes before carving.

Honey Bourbon Glaze

1/2 cup pure honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup bourbon
1 tsp. creole mustard
Dash of ground cloves, cinnamon, and allspice


Combine all glaze ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat.

For my Cajun Christmas Dinner Menu, click here.
 

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Bayou Boogie

Here's another little clip that I took at Festival Acadiens on the Sunday afternoon at the Main Stage. The crowd was dancin' up a storm to the fabulous Wayne Toups and Zydecajun band. Crank it up for this one and let the good times roll, cher!

Best of Cajun Thanksgiving Desserts

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I wanted to share a few of the divine dessert recipes that I love to serve my family and friends. All are sinfully delicious, so you'll want to save a little room for dessert! Forget the calories, cher, you can always dance them off later. Cest bon, cher! Bon appetit!

(CLICK ON RECIPE TITLE TO VIEW RECIPE)

Pumpkin Bread Pudding w/Chocolate Bourbon Sauce


 


Marguerite's Pecan Pie w/ Bourbon Whipped Cream

Bourbon Whipped Cream

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbs. bourbon

Mix the wet ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk in the confectioners sugar. Whip the mixture with an electric mixer until raised peaks form. (about 4 minutes) Great on everything!
 

Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread w/ Praline Glaze

Kahlua Fudge Cupcakes

Nanny's Praline - Pumpkin Pie

Caramel - Apple Bread Pudding w/ Rum Sauce

 

 Bananas Foster Cheesecake

 

Wishing ya'll a blessed and happy holiday! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Blackened Catfish Tacos + A Cajun Waltz

Here's a Cajun favorite that is so quick and easy for those busy days. Scrumptious blackened catfish,  wrapped up in a soft taco with all the trimmings. When I tell you that they're delicious, then you know that I mean it, cher! Cest bon, cher! And stay tuned for some Cajun Thanksgiving faves.

4 catfish fillets
Blackened seasoning (recipe below)
1 stick of butter

Shredded lettuce
Tomatoes, chopped
Red onions, sliced
8 soft tacos
Remoulade sauce

Blackened Seasoning

1 tbs. paprika
1 tbs. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Mix seasoning in a large shallow bowl. Dredge fish in spice mixture.

Heat butter over medium heat, in a large skillet. Place fish in pan and cook about 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels. Cut each catfish into bite sized pieces and place evenly on soft tacos. Garnish with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, and top with remoulade sauce. (recipe below) Fab!

Spicy Remoulade Sauce

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp. yellow mustard 

1 tsp. Creole or Dijon mustard

1 tsp. milk
1 1/2 tsp.'s. prepared horseradish
2 tbs.'s white onions, minced
1 tbs. fresh parsley, minced
1/2 tsp. white vinegar
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. lemon juice
Salt  to taste
Few drops Tabasco 
  
Combine all ingredients in bowl and blend thoroughly. Chill for 1 hour, before serving. Out of this world and great with any seafood.

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A Cajun Waltz

We had an absolute blast recently at the 40th anniversary of Festival Acadiens in Lafayette. It was hot and humid, but no one seemed to mind and it surely didn't stop this bunch of Cajuns from dancing to the more than 50 bands that performed throughout the 3 day event. Here's a little clip that I took of Wayne Toups, jammin' with the Pineleaf Boys,  and playing a Cajun waltz on the Sunday afternoon. Hope you all are having a fun and happy week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Cajun Fourth of July Preview

 Here are a few of the delectable recipes that we'll be preparing for the 4th. Sure to please your family and guests and totally worth the calories, cher! Bon Appetit!

Cajun Muffaletta Dip

Spicy Cajun Crab Dip

 Grilled Stuffed Jalapenos

Cajun Grilled Chicken Wings

Cajun BBQ Chicken w/ Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Chicken breasts, thighs, legs,
or 1 whole cut-up chicken 

Cajun rub, (recipe below)

Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce

   
Rub spice mixture into chicken, then shake on Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce on both sides and cover and refrigerate overnight. Preheat grill and grill  on medium heat,  for about 30 to 40 minutes, turning every 10 minutes. Baste often with BBQ sauce. Scrumptious!
 

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup bourbon

1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup cane syrup

2 tbs.'s Creole or Dijon mustard

1 tbs. Liquid Smoke

1 tbs. or more, chipotle sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbs.'s onion, minced
Salt and Tabasco to taste

Combine bourbon and sugar in saucepan and heat and stir on medium heat, until sugar melts.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a little water, if needed. Use as a basting sauce and make extra for dipping. Finger lickin' good!

Cajun Rub

2 tsb.'s salt

1 tbs. cayenne pepper
1 tbs. black pepper
2 tbs.'s smoky paprika
2 tbs.'s garlic powder
2 tbs.'s onion powder
1 tbs. dried parsley
1 tbs. dried thyme

Combine all in food processor and pulse until well blended. Store any remaining rub in an airtight container.


 Cajun Rice Dressing

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

Spicy Saints Burgers

Creole Summer Salad

Cajun Grilled Corn on the Cob

Happy 4th ya'll! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Sinful Summer Desserts + Bayou Boogie

With summer in full swing in Cajun country, I am making a few of my favorite summer desserts. I just love to cool down after a dip in the pool with a luscious cold treat. Think cool, think yummy, and think sinfully delicious! Guaranteed to please your family and guests, and just perfect for your Father's Day celebration! Bon appetit!

Banana Pudding Squares

Crust

2 cups crushed vanilla wafers
1/4 cup sugar
4 to 5 tbs.'s butter, melted

Combine and press evenly into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish and bake @ 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool completely and evenly place a layer of bananas on top of crust and set aside. Make filling.

Filling

4 eggs
2 large cans Pet milk
1 cup sugar
2 medium bananas, sliced

Heat milk in medium saucepan and bring just to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour the eggs into the milk and return to low heat and add sugar. Continue cooking on low, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat and pour over prepared crust. Cover and chill for 2 hours and top with whipped cream. (recipe below)

 Whipped Cream

1 pint heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Place the whipping cream and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Stir in the powdered sugar and mix on low, with an electric hand mixer until peaks form. ( about 3 to 4 minutes) Spread filling evenly on top of bananas and chill for 2 hours.

Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with chopped pecans and cherries if desired. Divine!

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And here are a few more family faves that are just heavenly on a hot day.

Lemon Icebox Pie

Chocolate Eclair Cake



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Bayou Boogie

Here's a little clip that I took of the fabulous The Pine Leaf Boys band, playing at Festival International 14'. Grab a cold one and crank it up for this one cher! Cheers!



Hope ya'll have a fun and fab weekend! Merci beaucoup for passing by!

Cajun Memorial Day Faves

With Memorial Day coming right up, I've been going through my summer recipes and trying to decide what this year's menu will include. I usually just ask my family what they would like and go from there. We'll be firing up the grill for a "kick off to summer bash" and here are a few of the many recipes that are on this year's "must have" list for our family holiday cook out. Enjoy!


Creole Bloody Marys (for starters)

1 cup vodka
4 cups tomato juice, chilled
2 tbs.'s lemon juice
2 tbs.'s Worcestershire sauce
2 tbs.'s horseradish
Tabasco to taste
Few shakes of celery salt
Celery sticks for garnish

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until well combined. Serve over ice and garnish with celery sticks. Cheers, cher!

 Creamy Crawfish Dip

 

Jalapeno Cheeseburgers

 Strawberry Lemonade

1 (1/2) cups sugar
4 cups water
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled, washed, and cut in half
1 cup lemon juice, 4 large lemons

Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in small saucepan and cook and stir on medium heat until dissolved. Set aside to cool.

Combine the remaining 3 cups water, 1/2 cup sugar, and the strawberries in blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a 2 quart pitcher and add cooled sugar mixture and lemon juice. Stir well and add crushed ice. Garnish with lemon slices and strawberries.

Cajun Grilled Shrimp w/ Spicy Remoulade Sauce

 

Spicy Cajun Grilled Chicken

Bayou Buffalo Wings

Mardi Gras Slaw

 Deviled Egg Potato Salad

 Bayou Bourbon Beans

 Parmesan Spinach Bread

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup bourbon

1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup cane syrup

2 tbs.'s Creole or Dijon mustard

1 tbs. Liquid Smoke

1 tbs. or more, chipotle sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbs.'s onion, minced
Salt and Tabasco to taste

Combine bourbon and sugar in saucepan and heat and stir on medium heat, until sugar melts.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a little water, if needed. Use as a basting sauce and make extra for dipping.

Kahlua Fudge Cupcakes

 

Blueberry Bread Pudding w/ Lemon Sauce

And who knows what else! Wishing all of you a fun-filled holiday weekend and a safe and Happy Memorial Day! Merci beaucoup for passing by!