Marguerite's Strawberry Delights + Bayou Boogie

There's nothing quite as delicious as fresh strawberries and we've had a bumper crop of them in Louisiana this year. My produce market had them on sale, so I bought a flat and have been in strawberry heaven all weekend. Here's one of my favorite recipes that is wonderful for breakfast or for just when you're in the mood for a little something sweet. They melt in your mouth and are even more fab when topped with my homemade whipped cream. Cest bon, cher! Enjoy!

Strawberry Shortcake Muffins

2 cups flour

2 tsp.'s baking powder

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup fresh  strawberries, rinsed, drained, and diced

1 cup whipped cream, (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups or use paper liners. In large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and sugar. Cut in butter until it is in small  pieces. I small bowl, whisk egg, vanilla, and cream, then add to flour mixture. Stir until well blended. Gently mix in strawberries. Spoon into muffin cups and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely and top with whip cream and garnish with a strawberry. Divine!

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)

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More Strawberry Delights

And since I still had a lot of strawberries left, I made my heavenly Croissant French Toast w/ Strawberry Syrup, for breakfast.  Click here to see recipe.

And for dinner guests last night, I made this wonderful Strawberry Shortcake that was my dear godmother's recipe. Click here to see recipe.

 And after dinner I whipped up a batch of these sinfully delicious Strawberry Daiquiris.

Click here to see recipe.

And I still had enough strawberries left to put a good stash in the freezer! Bon appetit!

I'll be sharing these at  Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Tasty Tuesdays, 
Delectable Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday, What I Whipped Up Wednesday, 
Cast Party Wednesday, It's a Blog Party,  Full Plate Thursday, These Chicks Cooked, 

Sweets for a Saturday, and Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

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Bayou Boogie

Here's a little clip that I took of the High Performance Band playing a Sunday afternoon dance at Whiskey River Landing in Henderson, Louisiana. This was before the "flood that wasn't", with most places getting a few inches of water or none at all! Most everyone is moved back in now, on the levee in Henderson,  and in Butte Larose.  The Army Corps of Engineers are at a total loss as to how to explain why the Atchafalaya Basin didn't have a flood of mammoth proportions, as they had predicted. But even after spending thousands of dollars evacuating and imagining that their homes and businesses would be ruined, everyone was just happy that they were wrong. As they say, better safe than sorry. Let the good times roll, cher!

The High Performance Band

Hope you all have a wonderful week! Merci beaucoup for coming by!

Creole Fried Shrimp Salad w/ Jalapeno Ranch Dressing + Cajun Boogie

Here's one of my favorite salads to have for lunch or when I'm in the mood for a light dinner. I love fried or grilled shrimp more than any other food and I have several excellent recipes for them, but this one is my absolute fave!  These succulent, Louisiana Gulf, fried shrimp blend perfectly with your favorite salad fixins' and when I tell you they're out of this world, then you know that I mean it, cher! And the spicy dressing adds that special touch to make this salad sinfully good! Cest bon! Enjoy!

Creole Fried Shrimp Salad

1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined (24 count)

1 large egg, beaten

1/2 cup half and half or milk

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 tbs.'s Creole or Cajun seasoning, divided

Few shakes Tabasco

Shredded lettuce

1 tomato, chopped

1 cucumber, chopped

3 hard boiled eggs, quartered

1 small can sliced black olives, drained
Or any veggies that you like

Season shrimp with 1 tbs. Creole seasoning and set aside. Beat egg in shallow dish and add Tabasco and half and half, and beat again. Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and other tbs. of Creole seasoning in large zip loc bag. Shake to mix well. Coat shrimp in egg mixture and place in bag, and shake until all are well coated. Fry in hot oil, (in deep fryer at 350 degrees) in batches for 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Arrange salad in salad bowls and top with fried shrimp and serve with dressing. (recipe below) Serves 3.

I am sharing this salad over at Tasty Tuesdays, Workshop Wednesdays, and Full Plate Thursdays.

Click here  for my Creole Seasoning Blend.

Jalapeno Ranch Dressing/Dip 

1 1/4 cups, no-fat buttermilk 

3/4 cup light mayo

1 tsp. Creole mustard

2 tsp.'s white wine vinegar

2 tbs.'s  lemon juice 

1 tsp. crushed garlic

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

1 tbs. fresh parsley, minced

1 tsp. Cajun seasoning

Salt to taste

Whisk ingredients together in the order given, in a mixing bowl. Store in a sealed glass jar in refrigerator, for up to one week. Shake well before each use.

Note: For dip, reduce buttermilk to 1/2 cup

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Cajun Boogie

Here's a little clip that I took of the High Performance Band, playing at a recent Sunday afternoon dance at Angelle's Whiskey River Landing, in Henderson, Louisiana. This is one of my favorite places that is expected to flood, and I've had more fun here than any other place on the planet. They took a big hit during Hurricane Gustav,  just three years ago, but with the help of many volunteers, were up and running in just a few months. And even if the worse comes to pass, I'm sure they'll be back, bigger and better than ever. Our prayers are with the Angelle family and everyone in the flood path.

High Performance Band

Merci beaucoup for all of your kind comments on my last post and for stopping by!

Going Under - The Flooding Has Begun

It's official, the Army Corp. of Engineers has made the agonizing decision to open the Morganza Spillway, about 40 miles northwest of Baton Rouge, to prevent the raging Mississippi River from flooding Baton Rouge and New Orleans. It began today at 3 pm, CST. They called it the lesser of the two evils, as it will divert some of the Miss. River into the Atchafalaya River and Basin, but will flood everything on the west side of the river, all the way down to the Gulf. While this is good news for Baton Rouge and New Orleans, it is the worse possible news for the tens of thousands of residents in the Atchafalaya Basin corridor. Here is a map of the projected inundation. Click to enlarge.

It means that quite literally, 3 million acres will go under water, including homes, businesses, churches, schools, farms and crops, wildlife, and anything or anyone that stays behind. Water levels are expected to crest at 29 feet on the lake side of the Henderson Levee, which means that Basin Landing, Whiskey River Landing, and McGee's Landing will all be totally submerged. These are some of my favorite places on earth, that are only 15 miles away, and it is so very sad and heartbreaking. They've all been moving everything out, and preparing to evacuate, for days now. Imagine it!

And my dear friends in the community of Butte Larose have also had to move everything they own to higher ground and will all be evacuating shortly, if they haven't already. As hard as it is, at least they had time to get out and save their belongings, unlike with tornadoes and earthquakes. Please keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers. Here is a video, from CNN that pretty much sums up the situation in Butte Larose and all along the Atchafalaya Basin, in Cajun country.Thankfully, Lafayette is not expected to flood. Click here for the flood tracker site.

Marguerite's Cajun-Style French Bread + Cajun Fun on the Swamp !

Here's a fast and easy recipe for a fabulous, Cajun-Style loaf of French bread. It's bold and rich flavor pairs well with just about everything and it freezes well, too. I like to make up several loaves at a time,  to keep on hand in the freezer,  and serve as a delicious appetizer when guests drop in. When I tell you that this bread is out of this world, then you know that I mean it, cher! Cest bon!

1 (14 oz.) loaf French bread

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 medium onion, chopped fine

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2/3 cup light mayo

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 tbs. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tbs. or more Cajun seasoning

Cut bread in half, lengthwise and brush melted butter evenly onto bread halves.

Stir together onion, jalapeno pepper, and the next 6 ingredients, and spread mixture evenly over buttered bread halves. sprinkle evenly with the Cajun seasoning. Slice each half into 8 (1 inch) pieces.

Place, buttered sides up, on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle evenly with Cajun seasoning.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15  minutes or until  bubbly.

Let stand for 5 minutes and enjoy!

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Cajun Fun on the Swamp

After a delectable breakfast of crab meat omelettes, bacon, and biscuits, we headed out to the levee, on the beautiful Atchafalaya Basin, to see if we could find some fun. We didn't have to look too far before we found this group, having a few cold ones on the porch, at Basin Landing

Adjacent to the store at Basin Landing is Turtle's Bar and we found another group of friends in there, as well. Turtles is a quaint little place, where friends often meet on the weekends, to visit or take a nice boat ride on the swamp. Plus, they have the coldest beer on the levee.

It's filled with interesting memorabilia and signs and has a retro jukebox. This preserved alligator head on the bar, caught my attention and lovely Spring flowers filled vintage containers, like this antique bathtub.

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After having a few cold drinks, it was time to go to the Sunday afternoon dance at Whiskey River Landing, which is just a short distance away, either by car or boat. Whiskey River is a dance hall and a boat landing, famous for it's Sunday afternoon dances and tours of the basin.

 

There was already a good crowd, when we arrived and we could hear the highly seasoned, Cajun music from outside. The hot as Tabasco, "High Performance Band" was rockin' the crowd and there was some nitty-gritty dancin, going on! Oh yeah, cher!

Here's a little clip that I took of the fun going on, on the dance floor. The audio is not the best quality, since I was standing too close to the speakers, at times, but it will give you an idea of the electricity that was bouncing off the dance floor. Let the good times roll cher!

High Performance Band

Hope ya'll have a fantastic weekend, filled with fun! Merci beaucoup for coming by!

A Real and Virtual Blast + French Rockin' Boogie !

First, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all of my new followers! Thanks so much for coming by and for all of your lovely comments! The weekend was an absolute blast, on the swamp, and at the virtual bloggie BBQ , hosted by Karen G. She was the hostess with the mostess, and did an excellent job of making everyone feel at home with her warm, Southern-like hospitality. Thanks again, Karen, for a great party! I hereby pronounce you and all of my followers, "Honorary Cajuns"! All that is required to become an honorary Cajun is to love the Cajun food and music! Welcome to Cajun country! Lassiez les bon temps rouler!

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We spent two days at a friend's camp in Henderson, Louisiana on the beautiful Atchafalaya Basin, better known as the Henderson Swamp. There is no end to the fun that one might find on the levee, on any given weekend, and this past weekend was no exception. We started out at Basin Landing for a few cold ones at Turtle's Bar.

It was a beautiful day on the water, cooler and sunny, and less humid than usual. The boaters were out in full force. This party barge was really rockin'!

We had a sinful lunch at Pat's Restaurant. I couldn't resist having an oyster poboy.

There was a whole lotta grilling going on, with all of the trimmings, too! Le bon manger!

I made a big pot of Cajun rice dressing and a bowl of Creole potato salad.

Click here for rice dressing and BBQ recipes

Click here for potato salad and grilled corn on the cob recipes


On Sunday, we headed over to the Sunday afternoon dance, at Whiskey River Landing.

The place was packed to the gills and the crowd was really boogie-ing down to the spicy sounds of Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie! One of my favorite bands and so much fun!

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Here's a little clip that I took of this very popular band, movin' the crowd! The crowd was going wild and the dance floor was very crowded! But, my camera's batteries went out just when the patrons were starting to dance ON the bar! I'll make sure to get one, next time! You can catch some more of my music videos on Youtube @ TheBayougirl. Crank it up for this one, cher, and let the good times, roll!


Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie

Hope ya'll have a wonderful week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Cool Summer Drinks + A Bon Temp !

It's been hotter than hot in Cajun country, and what better way to cool off than with a nice, yummy, frozen drink. After a long, hot day and a dip in the pool, I whipped up a batch of these heavenly, Pina Coladas. So easy to make and so refreshing and relaxing, too! What could be better! Cheers!

Frozen Pina Coladas

1 1/2 oz. light rum
2 oz. cream of coconut
4 oz. pineapple juice
1 cup fresh frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth and creamy! Serve in your favorite cocktail glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge. Warning: These can be addicting!



And for those of you who may want to refresh with a non-alcoholic, nutritious, drink, I am including my recipe for a Strawberry-Banana Smoothie. I've been making these since my kids were little and they are a great way to start the day! Sometimes I add a little protein powder or ground flax seeds, for an extra boost. This is my fave, but you can get creative and use whatever fruits that you have on hand. Enjoy!

 Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

6 strawberries, cut in half
1 banana, sliced
6 oz.'s vanilla frozen yogurt
1 cup low fat milk
2 tsp.'s sugar or sugar substitute, optional

Place strawberries, bananas, and sugar, in blender. Add frozen yogurt and milk. Add ice cubes and blend until smooth and thick. So delicious and good for you, too!

 
A Bon Temp!

It was another great weekend in Cajun country and my guests wanted to sample some of the best Cajun cuisine that Lafayette has to offer. We made the rounds at some of my favorite haunts and totally over-indulged in some sinfully delicious selections. Oh cest bon, cher!

But, first, when they arrived, I had a big pot of Crawfish Etouffee waiting for them.

Next, it was lunch at Julien's Poboys for some nitty-gritty Cajun favorites.

Fried Shrimp En Brochette (my favorite)

And Hot Sausage Poboy! Out of this world!

Then it was time to lighten up a bit and we headed over to Jefferson Orleans Restaurant for a nice big salad, topped with Grilled Jalapeno Encrusted Tuna Steak. "To die for", cher!



Then, on Sunday, we took a ride to the levee in Henderson, and stopped, on the way, at Landry's Restaurant, for some Oyster and Shrimp Poboy's. You might say that we were on a tear!

This shrimp poboy was divine! Cest bon, cher!

Next stop was Turtle's Bar, at Basin Landing, for a cold drink, before heading over to the dance, at Whiskey River Landing. Our usual routine, on the levee! We so needed to dance off all of these calories!

When we arrived at the dance, we could hear the spicy sounds of Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin' Cajuns from the porch. Oh the life of a Cajun, is oh, so fun! To be continued......

Merci for stopping by, cher amis! Hope ya'll have a wonderful week!

A Cajun Blast on the Swamp ( Part II )

After hanging out at Basin Landing for a while, we headed over to Whiskey River Landing, where the Sunday afternoon dance was just getting under way. The dances are held every Sunday afternoon, from 4 to 8 pm, with one 15 minute, band break, around 6 pm. We parked in front of "The Obsession", a houseboat that belongs to a friend of mine. It is perfection and the place of many parties and good times. (click to enlarge photos)


 
The crowd was feisty and starting to kick up it's heels. Most people were on their first beer, and the dancing usually gets more intense, according to how many beers the crowd has had! Toward the end, it usually is so crowded, that patrons take to dancing on the bar, a tradition at Whiskey River, and a sort of initiation, for newcomers. An absolute blast, cher! Let the good times roll!


This band really knows how to rev-up a crowd and with each beer, the dancing got faster and faster! I have found that after two beers, it's best to switch to water, if you're there for the long haul. It really helps to maintain your stamina! But there are others that feel that the beer is what keeps them going! I burned off the calories from my Shrimp Poboy, in just two songs!


Here's a little clip that I took of the dancers, right before half-time. They were really starting to cut the rug! The band was in fast forward mode and were boogie-ing down, cher! Also, this band is very loud, so the audio sounds a little warped at times, but you can get the idea. It's that push and pull action that keeps you in shape, not to mention the fancy footwork. Very aerobic!



I ran into an old friend, on the porch, who told me that there was a big shindig going on, right up the road on the levee, at Pat's Atchafalaya Club and Restaurant. It was a fundraiser for a cancer patient from New Orleans, with FIVE bands playing! We couldn't resist checking it out. The place was packed to the gills and the restaurant was serving up the usual seafood delicacies. Cest bon!

Pat's Atchafalaya Club has one of the biggest dancefloors in Louisiana and it was jammed with fans of the five fabulous bands. Shoulder to shoulder and very dark, too. Kinda gave new meaning to the Cajun expression, "two square feet of dancefloor" and you were lucky if you got that! The legendary Percy Sledge was slated to play, a little later. The crowd was already starting to go wild!

To be continued.....

And remember, this was all in one day! Oh the life of a Cajun, is oh, so fun!

A Cajun Blast on the Swamp ( Part I )

After a scrumptious Cajun breakfast, on Sunday, we headed out to find some fun on the Atchafalaya Basin, better known as the Henderson Swamp. It was a partly cloudy day, with the threat of scattered storms, which stayed to the south of the area. Our first stop was Basin Landing, a combination boat landing/bed and breakfast/bar/fishing supply store. It's quite a unique place and takes you back in time with it's rustic charm and retro Turtle's Bar. (click to enlarge)

There were lots of boaters, spending the afternoon on the water.
The water on the Basin is oil free and the fishing and crawfishing is good!

This is a deluxe houseboat , complete with floating kitchen and Tikki Bar! I would love to buy it and call it the Blogland Express! Imagine the fun we could have on this! Woo hoo!

The patrons at Turtle's Bar are very friendly and are usually ready to party.
Lots of cold beer and great music! There is also a billiard room and video poker.

But my favorite part of Turtle's is their fabulous retro jukebox. You don't see these too much, anymore. What a selection! A little Credence Clearwater Revival, elevated the mood!

It was almost time to go to the Sunday afternoon dance, at Whiskey River Landing, but we were starving and wanted to get a bite to eat, so we headed over to the nearby, Landry's Restaurant. 

My family has been eating at Landry's for over 30 years and I have many fond memories of eating delectable Sunday dinners here, with my parents and children, back when seafood platters were only $5.95!

I didn't want a big heavy meal, so I ordered a divine Shrimp Poboy! Out of this world, cher! Not one drop of oil on these babies! Absolute heaven for a shrimp-o-holic, like me! Cest bon, cher!


It was then time to head over to Whiskey River, to dance these calories off. Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin' Cajuns were rockin' the spirited crowd. Whiskey River is a combination boat landing/ dancehall/bar on the Henderson levee. Oh, and there was some nitty- gritty dancin' going on! Lassiez les bon temps, rouler, cher!!

To be continued.........

Wishing ya'll a fun, happy weekend! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!