Cajun Easter Favorites

The Spring weather has been absolutely gorgeous in Cajun country and perfect for grilling and boiling seafood on the patio. And with Easter almost here, I've been going through my recipes and trying to decide on which ones to prepare for my Easter Sunday Buffet. This is what I have so far and I'll be adding more as I go along. We will also be boiling some scrumptious Louisiana crawfish and shrimp and sipping a Cajun Bloody Mary or two. All out of this world,  and totally worth the calories, cher! Cheers and Bon Appetit!

Cajun Bloody Mary's

Jalapeno Andouille-Bacon Bites

 Cajun Crawfish Dip

 Cajun Baked Ham w/ Honey-Mustard Bourbon Glaze

 

Cajun Potato Salad

Spicy Cajun Boiled Shrimp Salad w/ Remoulade Sauce

Cajun Crawfish Casserole

Cajun Boiled Crab Salad

6 hard boiled eggs, quartered
1 carton grape tomatoes
1 avocado, peeled and sliced
1 red onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 large head of romaine lettuce, washed and torn
1 lb. lump crab meat, peeled from boiled crabs

Place lettuce in the bottom of a large salad bowl. Layer with crab meat, onion, bell pepper, avocado, and tomatoes. Top with eggs, and my Jalapeno Ranch Dressing. (recipe below)

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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 Crab and Corn Casserole 

 Parmesan Spinach Bread

Banana Pudding Cake w/ Praline Icing

1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 pkg. instant banana pudding mix
4 eggs
1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. almond extract
1 cup mashed bananas
2 tbs.'s rum, (optional)

In large bowl, stir together cake mix and pudding mix. Add eggs, oil,  water, and mashed bananas,  and beat with electric mixer on low for 30 seconds. 

Add almond extract and beat on medium speed for 2 more minutes. Pour into prepared muffin pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cake before icing with Praline Icing. (recipe below)

Praline Icing

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter in small saucepan. Add milk and sugar and stir and cook until well combined. Bring to a boil and lower heat and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Heavenly!

Coconut Dream Cupcakes

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Wishing you all a blessed and Happy Easter!
Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Cajun Fourth of July Favorites

Almost time for one of my favorite holidays and I've been tweaking my menu and planning our annual Fourth of July cookout. It's supposed to be hot and humid, so this will definitely be a poolside bash. And this is what I have on the menu, so far, and who knows what else I'll be adding! Plus, we'll be boiling some fabulous Spicy Cajun Boiled Crabs, since crab season is in full swing here in Cajun country. And when I tell you that it's all out of this world, then you know that I mean it, cher!  Bon appetit!

Cajun Jalapeno Cheeseburgers

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 tbs. Tabasco sauce

1 tbs. liquid smoke
2 tbs.'s minced garlic
1 tbs. prepared horseradish
1 bunch green onions, including tops, chopped 
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp.'s salt
2 jalapenos, sliced
8 slices cheddar cheese

Melted butter
Hamburger buns

Place beef in large bowl and add all other burger ingredients, except jalapenos and cheese. Mix gently and form into 8 (1/4 lb.each) patties. Place one pattie on a plate and layer with jalapenos and cheese slice.  Top with another pattie and seal edges together. Grill directly on a medium hot grill for about 10 to 15 minutes on each side. Brush buns with melted butter and grill on indirect heat until toasted, while burgers are cooking. Garnish with your favorite hamburger fixins. FAB! Makes 4 (1/2) pound burgers.

(click on title to view recipes)  

Spicy Cajun Crab Dip

Bayou Buffalo Wings

 Spicy Cajun Dogs

Spicy Boiled Shrimp Salad

Cajun Crawfish Casserole

Deviled Egg Potato Salad

Bayou Bourbon Beans

Cajun Margarita Cake

 Bourbon-Praline Brownies

 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.

Frozen Pina Coladas (my favorite)

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.

Wishing ya'll a very happy and safe 4th of July weekend!!! Merci beaucoup for passing by, cher!

Scrumptious Cajun Sides + Bayou Boogie

With the Memorial Day holiday just a day away,  I've been going through all of my favorite cook-out recipes and taking family requests. And I just wanted to share a few of the scrumptious sides that I will be preparing for our annual Memorial Day cook out. Cest bon, cher! Bon appetit!

Creole Potato Salad

 

5 lbs. red potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
6 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped fine
2 celery stalks, diced
1/4 cup green onions, sliced thin
1 large dill pickle, chopped fine
1 tsp. white vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
3/4 cup,  more or less, light mayonnaise
1/4 cup Creole mustard
2 tbs.'s yellow mustard
1 tbs. Creole or Cajun seasoning
Salt to taste

Place the potatoes and the eggs in a large pot of water with 1 teaspoon of salt. Water line should be 2 inches above potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Drain and allow to cool slightly. Meanwhile mix the sugar, vinegar, mayonnaise, and mustard in a large bowl. Add the potatoes and mix gently, while they are still warm. Add the chopped eggs, dill pickle, onions, celery, Creole seasoning, and salt, and mix gently until well combined. Chill for at least one hour before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and a sprinkling of more Creole seasoning

 Cajun 7 Layer Taco Salad

Crab and Shrimp Jambalaya

Cajun Grilled Corn on the Cob w/ Cajun Butter

Creole Shrimp Pasta Salad

Spinach Parmesan Bread

For more of my cook-out recipes, click here.
  
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Bayou Boogie

Here's another little clip that I took at this year's Festival International. Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas were moving the crowd and there was a whole lotta nitty-gritty dancin' going on.
Let the good times, roll, cher!

Wishing you all a fun and safe Memorial Day!

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 Mother's Day Brunch

It's almost time for one of my favorite holidays and for someone else to do the cooking. My dear son is planning a Mother's Day Brunch for me and family members and friends and this is what he has so far. He's including my faves and a few surprises, too and I can't wait to see what he might come up with. And add on top of all of this, he'll be boiling some Spicy Cajun Boiled Shrimp and Crawfish. Cest bon, cher!

 Bon appetit!

Mother's Day Mimosas
 

3 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice

1 ounce triple sec

4 ounces dry champagne

Combine in a champagne flute and garnish with fresh strawberries.  Heavenly!

Cheers, cher!

And a big batch of these cool, frozen Pina Coladas.

Cajun Crawfish Bread

Cajun Crab Dip (my fave)

Cajun Eggs Benedict Casserole

2 to 3 links Andouille sausage, or 12 ounces Canadian bacon, diced 

1 16. oz loaf French bread

8 large eggs

2 cups milk

1 tsp. or more Cajun seasoning

Salt and black pepper to taste

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 cup green onions, chopped
 

         
Tear bread into bite sized pieces and place in a buttered 9x13 inch casserole dish. Brown sausage  in skillet and drain excess oil. Place half of the sausage on top of the bread pieces. Whisk eggs, milk, and seasonings in bowl and pour over sausage layer. Top with remaining sausage, parsley, and green onions.

Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake for 15 more minutes or until set. Let rest for 10 minutes and top with Spicy Hollandaise Sauce. (recipe below)

Spicy Hollandaise Sauce

3 large egg yolks
1 tbs. cold water
1 stick of butter cut into pieces
1 tbs. Creole or Dijon mustard
Few shakes of Tabasco
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste

Set a heatproof bowl over a small pot of simmering water. Whisk egg yolks with water until thickened. (about 5 minutes). Whisk in butter gradually until melted. Season with Cajun seasoning and keep warm until ready to serve. Stir in lemon juice, Tabasco, and Creole mustard.

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 Fresh Fruit Platter w/ Pina Colada Dip

Fresh Veggie Platter w/ Smoky Blue Cheese Dip

1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
4 strips smoked bacon, cooked, drained, and crumbled
1/2 cup light mayo
4 tbs.'s low fat buttermilk
4 tbs.'s light sour cream
1/4 cup green onions, chopped fine
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Salt and Tabasco to taste

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and whisk until well blended. Chill for 1 hour and serve with fresh veggies or crackers.

Creole Boiled Crab Salad

Creole Mini Crab Cakes

Margarita Cake (my favorite)

Chocolate-Praline Cheesecake

Wishing all of you a very Happy Mother's Day ! Relax and enjoy your special day and have a fun and fabulous weekend! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!