Cajun Holiday Party Faves

With the holidays right around the corner, I wanted to share a few of my favorite holiday party buffet recipes. Perfect for all of your parties and gatherings and guaranteed to please your family and friends. Cest bon, cher!

Bon Appetit!

Appetizers

  Spicy Cajun Party Meatballs 

Cajun Crab Dip 

Creole Stuffed Mushrooms

Crawfish Spinach Bread Bowl

















 Main Course

Cajun Baked Ham w/ Sugarcane-Bourbon Sauce

 

Cajun Roast Turkey Breast

  Sides  

Spicy Creole Jambalaya

Mama's Cornbread Dressing

Candied Sweet Potato Casserole

Broccoli-Cheese Casserole 

 Breads

Spicy Crawfish Cornbread

2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 tsp. salt
3 tsp.'s. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup bell peppers, chopped
1/4 cup jalapenos, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 (15 oz.) can cream-style corn
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 lb. peeled crawfish tails or small shrimp
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning

Stir together cornmeal,  baking powder, baking soda, and salt,  in large bowl. In another bowl, beat the eggs and mix in the onions, peppers, vegetable oil, milk, cheddar cheese, cream style corn, jalapenos, crawfish or shrimp, and Cajun seasoning. Combine the mixture with the dry ingredients and place in a buttered 10 inch baking dish or cast iron skillet.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown and a knife comes out clean.

Grandma's Buttermilk Biscuits

 Desserts

Easy Kahlua Cake w/ Chocolate-Rum Glaze

1 box of dark chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (4 ounce) package of chocolate fudge pudding mix
4 eggs
1 cup brewed Community coffee, cooled
1/2 cup Kahlua
1 cup chopped pecans, for garnish


Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat for 4 minutes on medium speed. Transfer batter into a lightly greased bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes and then drizzle with glaze and garnish with pecans. Fab!
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 Chocolate-Rum Glaze

1 cup dark brown sugar
1 stick butter
1/4 cup rum
1/4 cup water







Melt butter in medium saucepan.  Add brown sugar, rum, and water, and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute or until thick.  Punch holes in cake and pour glaze evenly over cake.

 Bourbon Brownies w/ Praline Icing  

Chocolate Chip-Pecan Pie Bars

 Marguerite's Christmas Cookies

For more of my holiday desserts, click here.

Drinks 

Peppermint Martini

 First prepare the glass.

Dip rim of martini glass in white crème de cacao and swirl several times in a plate of crushed candy canes.

 2 oz. vodka
1 oz. white creme de cacao

1 oz. peppermint schnapps
1/2 cup crushed ice

Candy canes

Combine vodka, creme de cacao,  and schnapps over ice in shaker. Shake well and strain into prepared martini glass. Garnish with a candy cane.

   Ultimate Cajun Eggnog 

 For more fabulous Cajun Christmas drinks, click here.

Cheers and Happy Holidays, Ya'll!

Cajun Thanksgiving Buffet

Almost time for Thanksgiving, ya'll!  After taking requests and deciding on a menu, I wanted to share a few of my family's favorite Thanksgiving "must haves" that I will be preparing and serving at this year's feast. And some guests will be bringing an appetizer or a dessert to share and I'm sure that I'll be adding a few more treats, so stay tuned. All fabulous and guaranteed to please your family and guests, cher! Bon appetit!

 Cajun Thanksgiving Buffet

Spicy Cajun Crab Dip

Creole Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Fresh Fruit Platter w/Pina Colada Dip

 





Spicy Cajun Roast Turkey

1 10 to 12 lb. turkey
2 stalks celery, quartered
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1 onion, coarsely chopped
2 tsp.'s garlic, minced
Cajun turkey rub to taste (recipe below)
2 to 3 cups chicken broth
4 tbs.'s fresh thyme, chopped and divided
4 tbs.'s fresh parsley, chopped and divided
2 tbs.'s fresh sage, chopped and divided.

Wash turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Rub entire bird with the Cajun rub, including cavity.

Make a slit under the skin of the breast and stuff with garlic, salt, and half of the herbs. Stuff cavity with celery, remaining herbs, and onions.

Tie legs together, and tuck wings back, dot with butter, and place in a large shallow roasting pan with rack. Add 1 cup of chicken broth to the pan.

Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 3 to 4 hours (for unstuffed), and 3 (1/2) to 4 (1/2) hours for stuffed, or until a meat thermometer reaches 180 degrees.

Add more chicken broth, as needed during cooking and baste often with a turkey baster. Remove and discard vegetables in cavity and reserve pan drippings for gravy.

 Let turkey rest for 20 to 30 minutes before carving. Fab!

Cajun Turkey Rub

2 tbs.'s salt
2 tbs.'s onion powder
2 tbs.'s garlic powder
2 tbs.'s paprika
1 tbs. cayenne pepper
1 tbs. black pepper
1 tbs. bay leaves, crushed 
1 tbs. each, dried thyme and sage

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container and use as needed.

 Mama's Cornbread Dressing

1 (9 inch) cornbread, crumbled

1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 lb. freshly ground pork
1 (1/2) cups beef broth or stock
1 cup each (onions, bell peppers, and celery), chopped
2 cloves garlic , minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and Tabasco to taste
1 or 2 tbs.'s Cajun seasoning
2 tbs.'s Worcestershire sauce

In a large Dutch oven, season beef and pork with salt and Tabasco, and cook on medium heat till browned. Skim excess oil. Add the chopped vegetables and garlic and stir over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add beef broth or stock, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings, cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

In a large mixing bowl, combine dressing mix and cornbread and turn into a buttered 11x13 inch baking dish and bake for about 20 minutes or until browned. 

Candied Sweet Potato Casserole

3 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup dark rum
1 tbs. vanilla extract
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tbs.'s butter





Topping:

1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tbs.'s butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Place sweet potatoes in large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and boil for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender. Drain and mash when cooled slightly.

In medium bowl, mix  brown sugar, eggs, evaporated milk, butter, rum, and 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice. Add to sweet potatoes and mix well with a fork.


Transfer to a 13x9 inch baking dish, dot with 2 tbs.'s butter, and cover with foil. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the topping. In medium bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, and  pumpkin pie spice. Cut in the butter with a fork and mix until crumbly. Stir in half of the pecans and marshmallows.

 




Remove casserole from the oven, and stir gently to blend. Top with remainder of the pecans and marshmallows and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes or until golden brown.

More Sides  (click on links for recipes)

 Creole Rice Dressing 

 Spinach Madeleine

  
 Cajun Corn Casserole 

 

 

Breads

Bacon-Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins 

 

  Nanny's Sweet Potato Biscuits
 

 
Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce 

Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Cake w/ Praline Glaze

Bananas Foster Cheese Cake

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Merci beaucoup for passing by!

Cajun Thanksgiving Menu

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I am putting the finishing touches on my holiday menu. I asked my family and friends what dishes they wanted most this year and here is the menu that they requested.  And of course, there will be plenty of appetizers and desserts, too. (links below) Bon appetit!

Cajun Roast Turkey w/ Cornbread Oyster Stuffing

1 10 to 12 lb. turkey
2 stalks celery, quartered
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1 onion, coarsely chopped
2 tsp.'s garlic, minced
Cajun turkey rub to taste (recipe below)
2 to 3 cups chicken broth
4 tbs.'s fresh thyme, chopped and divided
4 tbs.'s fresh parsley, chopped and divided
2 tbs.'s fresh sage, chopped and divided

Wash turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Rub entire bird with the Cajun rub, including cavity. Make a slit under the skin of the breast and stuff with garlic, salt, and half of the herbs. Stuff cavity with celery, remaining herbs, and onions.

Tie legs together, and tuck wings back, dot with butter,  and place in a large shallow roasting pan with rack. Add 1 cup of chicken broth to the pan and bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 3 to 4 hours (for unstuffed), and 3 (1/2) to 4 (1/2) hours for stuffed, or until a meat thermometer reaches 180 degrees.


Add more chicken broth, as needed during cooking and baste often with a turkey baster. Remove and discard vegetables in cavity and reserve pan drippings for gravy. Let turkey rest for 20 to 30 minutes before carving. Fab!

Cajun Turkey Rub

2 tbs.'s salt
2 tbs.'s onion powder
2 tbs.'s garlic powder
2 tbs.'s paprika
1 tbs. cayenne pepper
1 tbs. black pepper
1 tbs. bay leaves, crushed 
1 tbs. each, dried thyme and sage

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

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(click on title to view recipes)

Cornbread Oyster Stuffing

Nanny's Praline-Sweet Potato Casserole 

String Bean Casserole

Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

Mama's Sweet Potato Biscuits

For more of my Cajun Thanksgiving sides, click here.

For my Cajun Thanksgiving desserts, click here.

For my Cajun holiday appetizers, click here.



Wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving, filled with good food,  good times, and good cheer! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Cajun Thanksgiving Menu

With less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, I've been tweaking my Thanksgiving menu and  narrowing down the list of my family's faves. I like to include a few new recipes, as well as the ones that have been handed down from my dear mother and grandmother. This is what I have so far, and  I'll be adding a few more, so stay tuned. Desserts will be on a separate post.

 Bon appetit!

(CLICK ON RECIPE TITLE TO VIEW RECIPE)

Cajun Thanksgiving Menu

(Appetizers)

Cajun Stuffed Crawfish Bread * Cajun Party Meatballs * Spicy Crab Stuffed Jalapenos
Fresh Veggies w/ Jalapeno Ranch Dip

(Main Course)

Cajun Fried Turkey w/ Giblet Gravy

Cajun Baked Ham  w/Sugarcane-Bourbon Glaze 

(Sides)

Mama's Cornbread Dressing * Creole Rice Dressing * Caramelized Onion-Mushroom Stuffing 

Candied Sweet Potato Casserole * Creamy Scalloped Potatoes w/Bacon (recipe below) *

 Spinach Madeleine * Cajun Corn Casserole 

(Breads)

  Nanny's Sweet Potato Biscuits * Jalapeno-Sausage Cornbread * Mama's Cornmeal Biscuits

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I'll be sharing these at ~
Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table and Dreaming
Tuesday Talent Show @ Chef in Training 
These Chicks Cooked @ This Chick Cooks 
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage

     

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Creamy Scalloped Potatoes w/Bacon

5 large baking potatoes
1 tsp. salt
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
2 tsp.'s minced garlic
3 tbs.'s butter
1/3 cup flour
3 - 1/2 cups milk
12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
2 tsp.'s Cajun seasoning, divided
5 slices bacon


Wash and peel potatoes and slice into 1/2 inch slices. Place in large pot of water, with salt, and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, drain, and transfer to a large bowl.

In large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain and crumble. Drain all but one tbs. of bacon fat and add onions, garlic, and peppers and saute for 5 minutes. Add veggie mixture and 1 tsp. of Cajun seasoning to the bowl and blend gently.

 On low heat, melt butter in large saucepan and whisk in flour. Slowly add the milk and continue to whisk for one minute. Add cheese and continue whisking until cheese melts. Stir in other tsp. Cajun seasoning, and bacon.

 Layer potato-veggie mixture in a buttered 13x9 inch baking dish and pour milk-cheese mixture over top. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Divine and compliments a ham perfectly.

Hope that ya'll are having a great weekend! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!