Spicy Chicken Sauce Piquante' + Tour of the Swamp

Since I am having company for dinner tomorrow, I thought that I would make this fabulous chicken recipe that has become a family favorite, at my house. I am using a whole cut up fryer, but it works just as well with chicken breasts. The zesty flavors in this spicy, succulent dish combine to make this Cajun meal one that your guests will long remember. Oh, cest bon, cher! Bon Appetit! 

Spicy Chicken Sauce Piquante'

1 whole cut up fryer chicken
or 6 chicken breasts
1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup flour

1 cup chopped onions

1/2 cup each bell peppers and celery, chopped

1 tbs. minced garlic

1 (6 oz.) can tomato sauce

1 (15 oz.) can crushed tomatoes w/ juice

3 cups chicken stock

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 tsp. salt

2 tbs.'s Cajun seasoning

Few shakes Tabasco sauce

2 tbs.'s Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup green onions

1/4 cup fresh parsley

Season chicken thoroughly with Cajun seasoning and sprinkle with Worcestershire sauce. Cover with foil and marinate in fridge, for 1 hour.
In heavy dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat and saute seasoned chicken until golden brown. (about 10 minutes on each side) Remove from oil and set aside.

Add flour to the pot, using a wire whisk, and stir continuously until a medium brown roux is reached. Add tomato sauce, slowly, and continue to stir for 5 minutes, until sauce is a rich reddish brown color. Add a little water, if needed.

Add onions, bell peppers, celery, and garlic and saute and stir for about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and chicken stock. Stir until well blended and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add chicken, salt, Tabasco,, and more Cajun seasoning. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add green onions and parsley and simmer for 10 more minutes. Serve over hot cooked rice with a big tossed salad and French bread. Oh cest bon, cher! Le Bon Manger!

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Thought that ya'll might enjoy a little tour of a Louisiana swamp for dessert!

An Alligator, A Lake, and A Plate Lunch

We decided to order a plate lunch from one of our favorite Cajun eateries, Julien's Poboys. I chose my favorite item on the menu, the Shrimp En Brochette. When I tell you how sinfully delicious these succulent, highly seasoned, fried, bacon wrapped shrimp were, you know that I mean it, cher! I know, the calories, but who's counting? Oh cest' bon, cher! Since I only allow myself to indulge in these divine shrimp, once in a great while, I ate them with great delight and no remorse. They come with curly Cajun fries and a small salad. My friends ordered a Fried Catfish Platter, and a Hot Sausage Poboy. Both, also fabulous!

With morning thunder showers cooling things off a bit, we decided to take a little trip to nearby Lake Martin, this afternoon. Lake Martin is of the most beautiful places on earth and is home to many species of birds, as well as alligators, and wildlife known to the area. It is the largest nesting area of wading birds in the United States and is listed in the top 10 bird watching sites in America by the Audubon Society. At the end of the lake there is a Cypress and Buttonbush thicket with tens of thousands of waders, which include Blue Herons and Great and Cattle Egrets, plus over 2oo species in all. If you're lucky, you may spot a Great Horned Owl or Red-bellied woodpecker. (Click to enlarge, to see Heron)

Lake Martin is a broad, shallow lake that is so peaceful and serene, which makes it is a perfect place to reflect on the beauty of nature and perhaps do a little fishing or hiking. We were in luck today, and captured this shot of an alligator sunning himself. He was about 12 feet long and not the biggest in the lake, as some grow to be 15 to 20 feet long. Here and there, you will see alligator nests which are large mounds of of leaves and dirt. Don't ever get too close to the nests! About this time, we were wishing that we had a piece of bait, so he would open his powerful jaws for the camera. Something else to put on the list for the next trip. Another Cajun adventure awaits! They don't call Louisiana "The Sportsman's Paradise" for nothing! Where do you go to be with nature, where you live?