Saturday, May 27, 2017

Bayou Bourbon Burgers + Cook Out Menu

Here's a Cajun fave that is bursting with spicy flavors and will have your family and guests coming back for more and begging you for the recipe, cher.  These sinfully delicious burgers are so easy to make and just perfect for your Memorial Day celebrations and summer cookouts. I've also included my Memorial Day cookout menu with links to each scrumptious recipe.
Bon appetit!

Bayou Bourbon Burgers

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 tbs. Tabasco sauce

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

1/2 cup onions, finely chopped
1 or 2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped

1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt

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 before and after with my Bourbon BBQ Sauce, (recipe below), turning once, halfway. Baste buns with melted butter and grill to the side for 5 minutes to toast. Garnish with your favorite toppings.

 
Bourbon BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup bourbon
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup cane syrup
1 tbs. Creole mustard
1 tbs. Liquid Smoke
1 tsp. Tabasco sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbs.'s onion, minced

Combine bourbon and sugar in saucepan and heat and stir on medium heat, until sugar melts.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a little water, if needed. Use as a basting sauce and make extra for dipping.


Cajun Style French Bread







Frozen Pina Coladas

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.


Enjoy and have a Happy Memorial Day, Ya'll!
Merci beaucoup for stopping by! 




Friday, April 14, 2017

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!



Jalapeno Andouille-Bacon Bites














 Cajun Baked Ham w/ Honey-Mustard Bourbon Glaze

 





























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)

^^^^^^^
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.

^^^^^^^

 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!



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

Monday, February 27, 2017

Cajun Mardi Gras Faves

Mardi Gras is in full swing here in Cajun country and we've been having a blast and it's  time to eat, drink, and be merry, and let the good times roll, cher! Here are a few of my favorite Mardi Gras party recipes that are guaranteed to please your family and guests. They are all sinfully good and what Mardi Gras party would be complete without these fabulous Cajun faves. Cest' bon!


Spicy Cajun Crawfish Cakes

1 lb. fresh crawfish tails
2 tbs.'s mayo
1 tbs. Creole or Dijon mustard
1/2  tsp. Tabasco sauce
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp. or more, Cajun seasoning
1 cup saltine cracker crumbs
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 tbs.'s olive oil
In large bowl, combine all ingredients, except oil and breadcrumbs and mix well. Roll in breadcrumbs, shape into 8 patties, and chill for 30 minutes. Heat oil, in large nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with my Creole Tartar Sauce. (recipe below)

Creole Tartar Sauce

1 cup light mayo
1 tbs. Creole mustard
1 tbsp. each, green onions and fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tbs. sweet pickle relish
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
Few shakes Tabasco

Combine all ingredients in bowl and chill. Fab!


^^^^^^^
And by popular demand.


Creole Potato Salad
















Cajun BBQ Shrimp

















King Cake Bread Pudding




Cheers and Happy Mardi Gras, Ya'll! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!


Saturday, February 4, 2017

Last Minute Super Bowl Faves

Almost time for the Super Bowl and and here are a few of the sinfully delicious items on my menu that I will be serving my family and friends. All out of this world, cher!  And since the weather forecast is calling for 75 degrees and sunny here in Cajun country, we will also be boiling some spicy Louisiana crawfish and shrimp on the patio. Bon appetit!

 

 








 Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Jalapenos


 Cajun Meatball Sliders














Wishing you all a very happy and fun Super Bowl Sunday! Merci beaucoup for passing by!


Saturday, December 31, 2016

Cajun New Year's Faves

What better way to start off the New Year than with a New Year's brunch with family and friends. Here is my brunch buffet menu for 2017 and it is chocked full of delectable Cajun favorites.  I am also following the Cajun tradition of eating black eye peas for good luck and cabbage for good health, throughout the New Year.  And if it's New Years, cher, can Mardi Gras be far behind!


Bon appetit and Happy New Year!

(click on links to view recipes)


 

^^^^^^^
And if you're wondering what to do with that ham bone in the freezer from Christmas dinner, here's a way to use it for your New Year's celebration.  Here's an easy, delicious recipe for slow cooker black-eyed peas that will have you adding this fabulous dish to your table at any time of year!

Slow Cooker "Good Luck" Black-Eyed Peas

1 pound dried black-eyed peas
1 tbs. vegetable oil
1 large red onion, chopped
1/2 cup each, red and green bell peppers, and celery
2 tsp.'s minced garlic
1 can diced Ro-tel tomatoes w/ green chilies, drained
1 quart water, (more, if needed)
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbs. Cajun seasoning
Few good shakes Tabasco
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. yellow mustard
1 cup ham, chopped
1 ham bone, (with some meat left on)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup green onions, tops included, sliced

Saute the onions, bell peppers, celery, and garlic, in the vegetable oil, until soft. (about 10 minutes) Combine all ingredients in slow cooker, except the parsley and green onions, and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low, for 7 to 8 hours. Remove ham bone and add the parsley and green onions in the last 30 minutes, stir well, and maybe add a little more hot sauce.

 Happy 2017 Ya'll! Merci beaucoup for passing by!