Giveaway Winner + Cajun Holiday Fun !

It gives me great pleasure to announce the winner of my Cajun cookbook giveaway. (winner was randomly selected by random.org) And the winner is #9........ Drick @ Drick's Rambling Cafe!!! Drick is a fabulous Southern chef from Alabama and his blog and recipes are "over the top". Please pay him a visit when you have time. Congratulations Drick, I know that you will love this cookbook and put it to good use. Enjoy, cher! Please send me your snail mail so that I can get this treasure in the mail to you. Many thanks to all of you who entered and commented.

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Cajun Holiday Fun

Hoping that you all had a wonderful New Year's celebration!  Mine was fab and I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by to wish me a Happy New Year. I just love the beginning of a new year and January is one of my favorite months because 1. the holidays are over, and  2. January 6, better known as the twelfth night, signals the beginning of carnival season in Cajun country and the beginning of the celebration of Mardi Gras! YAY!  The celebration will continue with each Krewe having it's own ball and parties,  ending on Mardi Gras Day, which is a little later this year, on March 8th. Lots of fun ahead, but here are a few pics of Cajun fun over the holidays. Still have lots more pics and videos to upload, so stay tuned.

Beausoleil at Medicine Show 14  (Acadiana Center for the Arts)

 Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys CD Release Party - Blue Moon Saloon

Here's a little clip of the "packed to the gills" crowd, rockin' and rollin' to the spicy sounds of this hotter than chili peppers band! Let the good times roll, cher! Oh the life of a Cajun is oh so fun!

Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys

New CD "Grand Isle"

Wishing you all a wonderful 2011, filled with fun! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Giveaway Winner + Creole Smothered Cabbage

It is with great pleasure, that I announce the winner of my Cajun cookbook giveaway! "Talk About Good II", compiled by the Junior League of Lafayette, is chocked full of authentic Cajun recipes, and is guaranteed to add some spice to your life. And the winner is Carol@The Writer's Porch !! Carol is a true Southern Belle and has a fabulous blog about family life on her farm in Mississippi. Congratulations, cher, I just know that you'll love it! Please send me your snail mail and I will get this treasure in the mail to you. Bon Appetit! 

New Year's Jambalaya

As promised, here is the photo of the New Year's Jambalaya recipe. I added a seeded and chopped jalapeno pepper, just to kick the heat up a notch. This was a powerfully good jambalaya. Oh, cest bon, cher! To see the recipe, click here. The great thing about jambalaya is that you can add or subtract different ingredients to make it your own. It would also be good with some sliced baby bella mushrooms, or shrimp in place of the sausage, etc. Oh cest bon, cher! Enjoy!

 Creole Smothered Cabbage
 

 I also wanted to share my favorite cabbage recipe with ya'll. It is out of this world and I have even had some non cabbage lovers tell me this. Creole Smothered Cabbage was passed down to me from my dear mother. The Cajuns follow the tradition that eating black-eyed peas and cabbage on New Year's Day will ensure good luck and good health in the coming year!

4 bacon slices, chopped
1 large cabbage, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup each, onions, mixed bell peppers, and celery
2 tbs.'s white vinegar
Salt to taste
2 tsp.'s Creole seasoning
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Cook the bacon in a large heavy pot, till crisp. Remove, crumble, and set aside. Saute the trinity in the bacon drippings for 10 minutes, stirring often and adding a small amount of water to prevent sticking. Add cabbage, mix well with the vegetable mixture. Add vinegar, seasonings, and crumled bacon and mix well, until cabbage is coated. Turn heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often. Add a little water, if needed. Cest bon, cher!

Mama's Cornmeal Biscuits + Giveaway Winner !

On the first cool morning of the year, my dear mother would always make these luscious, melt in-your mouth biscuits. The sweet aroma would fill the house and lead everyone to the kitchen for breakfast. These heavenly, cornmeal biscuits were out of this world, especially served with her homemade fig preserves. Easy and delicious! Cest' bon, cher! 

Mama's Cornmeal Biscuits

  
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
3 tsp.'s baking powder
1 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup milk, plus a little more if needed

Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture becomes coarse. Stir in milk. (dough will be stiff)

Place dough on lightly floured surface and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Use a 3 inch round biscuit cutter to cut the biscuits. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve with homemade jam or preserves. Serves 4.

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Giveaway Winner!

After a fabulous vacation, it's so good to be back home ! It's surprisingly not too hot and there is a bit of Fall in the air, which is unusual for this early in the year, in Cajun Country. Thanks to all of you who visited and left comments on my posts, while I was away. There were 26 entries in the Cajun Spice Giveaway and the winner was randomly selected. I am delighted to announce that we have a winner!!!

And the winner is............Kat of "At the Compound"! Kat's a great lady and has an interesting blog about family life in northern Alabama. Congratulations Kat! Please send me an email with your address and I will get this Cajun lagniappe package into the mail for you. Enjoy!