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!

Cajun Mother's Day Brunch

It's almost time for one of my favorite holidays and for someone else to do the cooking. My dear son is planning a Mother's Day Brunch for me and family members and friends and this is what he has so far. He's including my faves and a few surprises, too and I can't wait to see what he might come up with. And add on top of all of this, he'll be boiling some Spicy Cajun Boiled Shrimp and Crawfish. Cest bon, cher!

 Bon appetit!

Mother's Day Mimosas
 

3 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice

1 ounce triple sec

4 ounces dry champagne

Combine in a champagne flute and garnish with fresh strawberries.  Heavenly!

Cheers, cher!

And a big batch of these cool, frozen Pina Coladas.

Cajun Crawfish Bread

Cajun Crab Dip (my fave)

Cajun Eggs Benedict Casserole

2 to 3 links Andouille sausage, or 12 ounces Canadian bacon, diced 

1 16. oz loaf French bread

8 large eggs

2 cups milk

1 tsp. or more Cajun seasoning

Salt and black pepper to taste

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 cup green onions, chopped
 

         
Tear bread into bite sized pieces and place in a buttered 9x13 inch casserole dish. Brown sausage  in skillet and drain excess oil. Place half of the sausage on top of the bread pieces. Whisk eggs, milk, and seasonings in bowl and pour over sausage layer. Top with remaining sausage, parsley, and green onions.

Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake for 15 more minutes or until set. Let rest for 10 minutes and top with Spicy Hollandaise Sauce. (recipe below)

Spicy Hollandaise Sauce

3 large egg yolks
1 tbs. cold water
1 stick of butter cut into pieces
1 tbs. Creole or Dijon mustard
Few shakes of Tabasco
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste

Set a heatproof bowl over a small pot of simmering water. Whisk egg yolks with water until thickened. (about 5 minutes). Whisk in butter gradually until melted. Season with Cajun seasoning and keep warm until ready to serve. Stir in lemon juice, Tabasco, and Creole mustard.

^^^^^^^
 Fresh Fruit Platter w/ Pina Colada Dip

Fresh Veggie Platter w/ Smoky Blue Cheese Dip

1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
4 strips smoked bacon, cooked, drained, and crumbled
1/2 cup light mayo
4 tbs.'s low fat buttermilk
4 tbs.'s light sour cream
1/4 cup green onions, chopped fine
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Salt and Tabasco to taste

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and whisk until well blended. Chill for 1 hour and serve with fresh veggies or crackers.

Creole Boiled Crab Salad

Creole Mini Crab Cakes

Margarita Cake (my favorite)

Chocolate-Praline Cheesecake

Wishing all of you a very Happy Mother's Day ! Relax and enjoy your special day and have a fun and fabulous weekend! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!