Cajun Cookout Favorites + Bayou Boogie

Summer is in full swing here in Cajun country, and grillin' on the patio and chillin' in the pool are my favorite activities on a hot day. Here are a few of my favorite Memorial Day recipes and cookout faves that I will be preparing for family and friends. Plus lots of yummy frozen drinks and dips in the pool.   Bon appetit!

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Cajun Frozen Margaritas

2 tbs.'s coarse salt

1 lime wedge
3 oz.'s white tequilla
1 oz. triple sec
2 oz.'s fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. green Tabasco sauce
1 cup crushed ice

Place salt on saucer. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of a cocktail glass and dip glass in salt to coat rim. Pour tequila, triple sec, lime juice, Tabasco, and crushed ice into blender and blend on high until creamy and smooth. Pour into cocktail glass and garnish with a lime. 

  Spicy Creole Guacamole

 Spicy Drunken Shrimp Kabobs

Muffaletta Pasta Salad

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 and basting often with Bourbon BBQ Sauce. (recipe below)

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 or blender and pulse until well blended. Store any remaining rub in an airtight container.

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Fresh Fruit Platter w/ Pina Colada Dip

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

Spicy Saints Burgers

Creole Summer Salad

Cajun Grilled Corn on the Cob

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And now for a sinfully delicious dessert.

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Pina Colada Bread Pudding w/ Rum Sauce

1 (16 oz.) loaf French bread, (torn into bite sized pieces
1 (10 oz.) can frozen pina colada drink mix
6 oz. pineapple juice
1 large can, (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1/2 cup cream of coconut
1/2 cup flaked coconut
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup light rum
1 small can, (8 oz.) crushed pineapple



In large bowl, tear bread into bite sized pieces. Place the next 7 ingredients in blender, and blend until smooth. Stir in the crushed pineapple. Combine mixture with the bread pieces and stir well to coat. Place in slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours. Serves 8.

If you prefer to bake it in the oven, follow the basic recipe, and place mixture into a lightly greased baking dish, and then into a larger pan of water about 2 inches deep. Bake @ 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Top with whipped cream,  or if you want a little added touch of decadence, serve with my rum sauce. (recipe below)

Rum Sauce

1/2 stick butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg yolk, beaten

2 tbs.'s water

2 tbs.'s dark rum

Melt butter in saucepan. Add the sugar, egg yolk, and water. Bring to a boil and cook on a full boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add the rum. Strain and serve over bread pudding. Fab!

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Bayou Boogie

Here's a little clip that I took at a recent concert in River Ranch. Wayne Toups was rockin' the crowd and there was a whole lotta dancin' going on. Crank it up for this one and let the good times roll, cher!

Bayou Bourbon Burgers + Cook Out Menu

Here's a Cajun fave that is bursting with spicy flavors and will have your family and guests coming back for more and begging you for the recipe, cher.  These sinfully delicious burgers are so easy to make and just perfect for your Memorial Day celebrations and summer cookouts. I've also included my Memorial Day cookout menu with links to each scrumptious recipe.
Bon appetit!

Bayou Bourbon Burgers

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 tbs. Tabasco sauce

1 tbs. liquid smoke
2 tbs.'s minced garlic

1/2 cup onions, finely chopped
1 or 2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped

1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt

6 large burger buns
3 tbs.'s butter, melted

Place meat and all other ingredients in large bowl and mix gently, but thoroughly. Shape meat mixture into 6 patties and cover with foil and chill for one or more hours. Preheat gas grill on medium- high heat or charcoal grill on medium- high and cook for 7 to 10 minutes on each side, for medium. Baste before and after with my Bourbon BBQ Sauce, (recipe below), turning once, halfway. Baste buns with melted butter and grill to the side for 5 minutes to toast. Garnish with your favorite toppings.
 

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup bourbon

2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup cane syrup

1 tbs. Creole mustard

1 tbs. Liquid Smoke

1 tsp. Tabasco sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbs.'s onion, minced

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.

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Also on the menu: (click on title to view recipe)

Spicy Cajun Grilled Chicken

Creole Potato Salad

Cajun Seven Layer Dip

 Spicy Creole Jambalaya

 
 Cajun Grilled Corn on the Cob

Bayou Bourbon Beans

Cajun Style French Bread

Strawberry Shortcake Muffins

 Banana Pudding Squares

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.

Enjoy and have a Happy Memorial Day, Ya'll!
Merci beaucoup for stopping by! 

Cajun Memorial Day Menu

With the big Memorial Day holiday only a few days away, I've been tweaking my menu for our family cook-out. This is what I have so far, and since most guests will be bringing a side or dessert to share,  I think that we have it covered. And add to this some delicious hot and spicy boiled crawfish. Bon appetit and Happy Memorial Day, Ya'll!

Cajun Crab Dip w/ Toasted Baguettes

Bourbon Glazed Shrimp Skewers

 

Bayou Buffalo Wings

Jalapeno Cheese Burgers

 Cajun Rice Dressing

 

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

Creole Summer Salad

 

Cajun Style French Bread  

All fab, cher! Hope you all have a fun weekend, filled with good food, good friends, and good times! 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!