Cajun Christmas Drinks + Fun on the Bayou!

Well, we're down to the wire, with only 2 days to go, and I wanted to share a few of the drinks that I will be serving at my Christmas Eve party. They are all sinfully delicious and festive and will delight your guests. Cheers, cher amis!  (photos courtesy of Google)

Ultimate Cajun  Eggnog

5 scoops French vanilla ice cream

5 scoops mocha ice cream

1 1/2 cups purchased eggnog
1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 cup brandy
2 tbs.'s orange liqueur
Chocolate shavings and grated nutmeg and/or cinnamon sticks for garnishes

Combine all ingredients, except garnishes, in blender and blend on lowest speed until the mixture is smooth and frothy. Pour into pitcher and sprinkle with garnishes. Fab!

Frozen Pomegranate Margaritas

1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/3 cup tequilla (I use Jose Quervo Gold)
1/8 cup Triple Sec
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 1/2 cups ice cubes
Salt

Combine all ingredients , except salt in blender and pulse until well combined. Rim glasses with a lime wedge, then dip in salt. Garnish with a lime wedge. Divine!

Black Santa Martini

4 ounces coffee liqueur
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces peppermint schnapps
Ice
Mint leaves or peppermint sticks for garnish

Place all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake for a few minutes and pout into martini glasses. Garnish with mint leaves and/ or peppermint sticks. Serves 2. Out of this world!

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Fun on the Bayou

Here's a little clip of the Grammy winning Beausoleil band, playing at Medicine Show 14 in downtown Lafayette on Saturday night. This fabulous show, that also featured the one and only, Zachary Richard, Grammy nominated,  Feufollet, and famed,  slide-guitarist, Sonny Landreth was held in it's new venue,  the new Acacdiana Center for the Arts. The annual fundraiser, has raised over a million dollars in funds for the Tommy Comeaux Endowment for the Arts Fund, at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. It is also a tribute to the late Dr. Tommy Comeaux. It was a blast! Sorry it's so short, but the camera's batteries died! C'est la vie!

Beausoleil

Wishing all of you a Joyeaux Noel filled with many special memories to treasure! 

Merci beaucoup for stopping by! Let the good times roll, cher!

A Great Dinner Salad + Cajun Fun on the Bayou !

Since we are still having very warm weather, here in Cajun country, I like to grill several chicken breasts and a few pounds of shrimp every week and keep them in the freezer for use in dinner salads. What could be easier and more delicious than a nice big flavorful, healthy salad! Here is one of my faves.  Cest bon, cher!

Cobb Salad w/ Jalapeno Ranch Dressing

 1 head of bibb lettuce, torn

2 grilled chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces or 1/2 lb. grilled shrimp

1 large avocado, peeled and chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 hard boiled eggs, chopped 

1 large tomato, seeded and chopped

1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled

5 strips bacon, fried crisp and crumbled, optional

Arrange ingredients in layers in a large salad bowl. Serve with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing. 

Jalapeno Ranch Dressing 

1 (1/4) cups, no-fat buttermilk 

3/4 cup light mayo

1 tsp. Creole mustard

2 tsp.'s white vinegar

2 tbs.'s  lime or 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 container in refrigerator, for up to one week. Shake well before each use.

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Cajun Fun on the Bayou
 

We jump started our weekend a little early, on Thursday evening, at the weekly "Rhythms on the River" concert in Town Square at River Ranch. Gorgeous, summer-like weather really brought out a huge crowd that was enjoying an evening of great Cajun fun!

Some were having a cold drink to unwind, after a stressful work week. Others were having a bite to eat, on the patio at the City Club Bar and Grille. Cajuns love to eat, drink, and be merry, cher, and spend time with family and friends! It's called the Cajun  joie de vivre!

And they LOVE to dance, more than anything,  and pass a good time! The fantastic Fifth Avenue band was entertaining the crowd and there was a whole lotta dancin' going on! 

Then on Friday evening, we went to Happy Hour at Agave' Mexican Restaurant and Cantina and had a round of Margarita's, before heading across the street to this week's T.G.I.F. block party, at Parc Sans Souci, in downtown Lafayette. It was a blast and Louisiana Red was rockin' the crowd!

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I've had a few more requests for some more festival clips so here's a little clip that I took of a Zydeco number, with Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express, movin' the crowd at Festival Acadiens. Crank it up and let the good times roll, cher!

Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express

I am heading out to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Ragin' Cajuns,  Homecoming tailgating party, and you know what that means! Woohoo! Lots of wonderful Cajun food, music, and fun! What are your plans for the weekend? Whatever you have planned, hope that ya'll have a fun, fabulous time! Cheers! Merci for stopping by!

Spicy Grilled Catfish & Shrimp + Fun on the Bayou

Here's a great quick and easy recipe that is a favorite at my house, and is perfect for those warm summer evenings. So light and healthy, too! One bite of this scrumptious dish will send you into orbit, cher! Oh, cest bon! If you can't get catfish, in your area, your favorite fish can be substituted. Enjoy!

Spicy Grilled Catfish and Shrimp 

4 large catfish fillets
1 lb. large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1 tbs. blackened fish seasoning
1 tbs. Cajun seasoning
1 tsp. dried thyme
Juice of one lemon

 


Squeeze lemon juice on both sides of fish and shrimp. Combine seasonings and sprinkle seasoning mix on the fish and shrimp, to coat both sides. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Place seasoned shrimp in an oiled grill pan, and baste and grill for 5 to 7 minutes on each side. Place seasoned catfish (top side down) in an oiled grill pan.  Grill on medium for 10 to 12 minutes. Flip and baste and grill for 10 to 12 more minutes, or until fish flakes with a fork. Oh cest bon, cher! Serve with steamed broccoli and garlic bread. Le bon manger!

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Fun on the Bayou

It was another great Cajun weekend, with lots going on and plenty of fun to be had! On Saturday night, we went to Artmosphere, a combination art gallery, restaurant/ bar, hookah lounge, and live music venue, in downtown Lafayette. David Egan and the Twenty Years of Trouble Band were rockin' the crowd!

There was a whole lotta rockin' and rollin' going on!

After dancing for a while, we ordered one of these sinfully delicious pizzas! Divine!

The walls are always filled with such interesting art. These caught my eye.

And here's a little clip that I took of some good old bayou boogie. They were jammin' down!

David Egan and the Twenty Years of Trouble Band!

Wishing you all a wonderful, happy week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!