Cajun Cook-Out Menu - Part I + Bayou Blues

Since it's almost time for the holiday weekend, I wanted to share a few of my Cajun cook-out recipes that I will be preparing for my family and friends for our Memorial Day cook-out. From appetizers to burgers and wings, to sides, and desserts, there is a little something for everyone and they are all fab! This is what I have so far! Cest bon, cher! Bon appetit!

Cajun Cook-Out Menu

(click on recipe title to view)

The Appetizers

Grilled Stuffed Jalapenos ~ Crawfish-Spinach Bread Bowl ~ Cajun Style French Bread

The Meat

Cajun Beer-Can Chicken ~ Cajun Grilled Chicken Wings ~ Spicy Cajun Burgers

                                                    (recipes below)

The Sides

Remoulade Potato Salad  ~  Bayou Bourbon Beans ~ Cajun Grilled Corn on the Cob

And who knows what else I'll be adding!  

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If you really want some really, " finger- lickin' GOOD" chicken wings, delight your guests with this scrumptious HOT wing recipe with a bit of sweetness added! Out of this world!

Cajun Grilled Chicken Wings

2 lbs. chicken wings

1 tbs. or more Cajun seasoning

1/4 cup salsa

1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup orange marmalade
1 tbs. Tabasco
1 tbs. vinegar
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce



Sauce
Combine salsa, marmalade, Tabasco, vinegar, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce in small bowl, and mix well. Set aside.

Season chicken wings with Cajun seasoning in large baking pan. Grill on medium hot coals or on medium,  for gas grill. Cover and grill for 10 minutes, turn and brush liberally with sauce. Continue grilling for 10 more minutes, turn and brush other side with sauce. Grill for 10 more minutes or until done. Cest bon! Bon Appetit!

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It just doesn't get any better than this, for burgers! These spicy, smokey burgers are the ultimate Cajun treat and just one bite will send your taste buds into orbit, cher! Enjoy!

Spicy Cajun Burgers

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 tbs. Tabasco sauce

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

1/2 cup green onions, chopped fine
1 or 2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped

1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp.'s salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
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 buns with melted butter and grill to the side for 5 minutes to toast. Garnish with lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles and enjoy, cher! 

I'll be sharing these over at Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday,

Full Plate Thursday,  Potluck Friday, Fat Camp Friday, and It's a Hodgepodge Friday.

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Bayou Blues

Here's another little clip, taken at the Spring finale' in River Ranch last week,  of the great Marcia Ball singing some good ole bayou blues. I'd like to dedicate this one to my dear friend, Wayne, who really knows how to dance to the blues. This one's for you, cher! Cheers!

Next, I'll be sharing some more Cajun cook-out ideas and some desserts and drinks, so stay tuned! 

Wishing ya'll a wonderful week! Merci beaucoup for dropping by!

Chocolate-Praline Bundt Cake + Cajun Fun on the Bayou

Here's a Cajun delight that I love to make for special occasions or when I'm having guests. When I was invited to a wedding shower recently and asked to bring a dessert, I knew exactly what I wanted to bring. This rich, delectable cake is out of this world and will have you going back for more and is even more decadent when you add a little bourbon! Cheers! Bon appetit!

Chocolate-Praline Bundt Cake

2 sticks butter

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 cup water

1/8 cup bourbon (optional)

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

Spray a bundt  pan with Baker's Joy, baking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On low heat, cook the first three ingredients in a saucepan, stirring constantly, until butter melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

In large bowl, beat buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and extract, with an electric mixer, until smooth. Add butter mixture to buttermilk mixture, beating until well blended. In small bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients and add to the bowl, beating until well blended.

Pour into prepared bundt cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack and invert on cake plate, before frosting. (recipe below)

Praline Frosting

1/4 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup whipping cream

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans

Bring first three ingredients to a boil in a 2 quart saucepan and boil for 1 minute, stirring often. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract and powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in pecans and stir gently for about 3 minutes or until frosting begins to cool and thicken. Frost immediately because it will harden quickly. And yes, you will want to lick the spoon! Cest bon, cher!

I'll be sharing this cake at  Sweet Treats Thursday, It's a Hodgepodge Friday, Friday Potluck,  Sweets for a Saturday, Saturday Nite Special,  Sunday Showcase, A Themed Baker's Sunday, and Savory Sundays. Join in the fun!

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Cajun Fun on the Bayou

We had an absolute blast at the Spring Finale' of Rhythm's on the River in River Ranch on Thursday evening. An enormous crowd gathered to see the fabulous Marcia Ball and her talented band.

The honky tonk sounds of this fantastic band filled the Town Square and they were really jammin'up a storm. Marcia plays a mean keyboard and her soulful brand of Louisiana boogie is the best!

It was a warm and sultry evening and the drink booths were hoppin' and the wine was flowing. After all, it has been a very stressful week in Cajun country and it was almost the weekend.

Many were coming straight from work and decided to indulge in a nice dinner while relaxing with friends on the patio at the City Club. Others opted for the Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya at the Rouse's Market booth. Yum!

Then of course, there was plenty of dancing to work that dinner off and to relieve the stress of the work week. Cajuns consider dancing a good form of therapy and love every minute of it!

I took quite a few clips, that I will be sharing with ya'll, but here is my fave. My friend, Tom, was cutting the rug and really twirling that lucky girl around. This one's for you, cher!

Hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend, filled with fun! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice + Bayou Boogie

When an old friend called and said that she and her family would be coming into Lafayette today, to do a little shopping and would like to stop by, I was absolutely thrilled. The only problem was that I had to work and would not have time to prepare dinner for them. So, after checking my pantry and fridge, I decided to cook an oldie but goodie, Red Beans and Rice, in my trusty slow cooker. What could be easier than assembling the ingredients that could simmer all day while I was away and be ready when they arrived around 5:30 pm. So easy and delicious, cher! Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

1 lb. package red kidney beans
6 cups water
2 links smoked sausage, sliced and cut in half
1 cup, cubed ham + add leftover ham bone for extra flavor
1 cup, each, chopped onion and bell pepper
2 stalks celery, sliced thin
2 tsp.'s minced garlic
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tbs. or more Cajun seasoning
salt to taste
2 bay leaves
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce

Few good shakes Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
3 cups hot cooked rice

Combine the first 12 ingredients in electric slow cooker. Cook for 5 hours on high or for 8 hours on low. Discard bay leaves and mash some of the beans and add green onions and Tabasco, and cook for 15 more minutes. Add a little water, if necessary. Serve over hot cooked rice with a big tossed salad and French bread. Serves 6. Cest bon, cher!

Note: The sausage and ham can be omitted for a vegetarian delight.

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Bayou Boogie

Here's a clip of one of my favorite artists, Marcia Ball, playing one of my favorite songs, "Got My Red Beans Cookin", at this year's Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Hope ya'll are having a wonderful, fun, week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by! Let the good times roll, cher!

Marcia Ball

French Market Beignets + Bayou Boogie

Since I've recently had several requests for a recipe for beignets, I thought that I would share one of my favorite recipes that tastes almost identical to the ones that are served at the French Market, in New Orleans. I started off my Sunday, with these fabulous beignets and coffee and worked my way up to grillin' some Cajun jumbo shrimp, chicken, and burgers. Yes, grilling ! It's a gorgeous day, (sunny and 70 degrees) in Cajun Country! Perfect for having family and friends over to watch the big game. Geaux Saints!

This recipe, adapted from Southern Living Magazine, 1998, is as close to the real thing that I've ever had! And so easy, too! There's really nothing quite like the heavenly taste of biting into one of these babies with a good strong cup of Community coffee! Cest bon, cher! Enjoy!

French Market Beignets

1 envelope active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 large egg
4 to 4 1/2 cups flour
Vegetable oil, for frying
Powdered sugar, for dusting

Combine yeast and warm water in small bowl, and let stand for 5 minutes. Combine yeast mixture, evaporated milk, and next 3 ingredients. Gradually stir in flour to make a soft dough. Cover and chill for 8 hours.

Turn dough out onto a well floured surface and knead 5 or 6 times. Roll dough into a 15 x 12 inch rectangle and cut into 3 inch squares. Pour oil into a large Dutch oven, to a depth of 3 inches and heat to 375 degrees. Fry 4 or 5, at a time, for one minute on each side or until golden. Drain and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes 2 dozen.

Bon appetit!

 Hope that ya'll have a wonderful, fun week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Time for Downtown Alive + Bayou Boogie

It's that time again in Cajun country! Time for Lafayette's favorite Friday night "T.G.I.F." block party. The 26th annual Fall concert schedule has been released and it looks like one big jammin' line- up. The fun all starts on Friday, September 11, and runs every Friday evening through Nov. 20, with a special lagniappe edition on Thanksgiving eve, November 25!



Kicking off this fantastic party will be T.K. Hulin, Steve Adams and Smoke, with special guest, Charlene Howard. For a complete schedule go here. Oh the memories with this one- of- a- kind band. T.K. is a local Cajun legend and his distinctive Swamp Pop sound continues to attract huge crowds in Acadiana. Come on out for a bon temps and get into the Fall festival spirit.

We have a lot of great festivals coming right up, including Festival Acadiens et Creole, my favorite, slated to run from Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 12, in Girard Park in Lafayette. This Cajun Woodstock is one that you don't want to miss! See ya'll there! Let the good times roll, cher!

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Here's a little clip of a Downtown Alive party that I took at the Spring 09' series. Enjoy!

Marcia Ball

 

Live from Lafayette- It's Marcia Ball !

Parc International in downtown Lafayette was the scene for tonight's incredible concert, with the fabulous Marci Ball and her fantastic band. Hot! Talented pianist, vocalist,and songwriter, Marcia brings her swamp blues, honky tonk,  boogie-woogie style to the stage, making her a favorite of music fans around the world. She was recently nominated for the 2009' Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year award and is currently working on a new studio album, entitled "Peace, Love and BBQ." She electrified the crowd, as they went into nitty-gritty dance mode with a whole lot of jitter bugging going on. I have many fond memories of seeing Marcia play at Grant Street Dancehall and Jazz Fest. If you missed Marcia tonight, you can catch her at the upcoming New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 2nd. For a complete schedule of Jazz Fest,
click here. Guaranteed to be a blow out, as always.
Let the good times roll, cher!
Marcia Ball