-
Goat Cheese King Cake with Crawfish Etouffee
I can remember the first time I saw a boudin king cake. It was sitting on a table at a super bowl party some years back. Our eyes met from across the room and once I worked up the courage for a proper introduction, my life wouldn't be the same. A savory king cake! Who would have thunk it? Once the barrier between traditionally sweet and typically savory foods has been broken, there is no going back. This king cake is walking, talking proof of that. If you're on a diet or just try to eat healthy, figure on jogging a lot and fasting the remainder of the weekend. It is…
-
Watermelon Mojitos
This mojito has rapidly become one of my favorite drinks. It is the PERFECT drink for summer. It's fresh and light so it's super easy to drink outside in the heat. Also, the sweet flavors perfectly complement anything that you may pull off the smoker or grill.
-
BBQ Catfish and Grits
This recipe is inspired by the classic New Orleans dish: BBQ Shrimp. It's not actually cooked on the BBQ pit but rather smothered in a buttery, Worcestershire laced sauce. Believe it or not, fresh catfish fillets work perfectly with this sauce. And when you place catfish and sauce on top of a bowl of piping hot cheddar cheese grits, this recipe becomes irresistible.
-
Whipped Ricotta Dip
Appetizers and party foods are some of my favorites. Whenever I'm in a new city I love doing a little restaurant hopping, sitting at the bar and ordering a few different cocktails and appetizers. It's the perfect way to experience as many of a restaurant's options as possible. Appetizers also are a perfect way to fill out your party menu at home and this recipe for Whipped Ricotta Dip is one of the easiest appetizers you will ever make. In addition to the ease of preparation, the flavors are incredibly versatile. They go with many different cuisines and dishes. You only need a handful of ingredients and a hand mixer…
-
Deer Sausage Breakfast Burrito
Sometimes in the kitchen as well as life, the most simple things are the most enjoyable. It doesn’t get much easier than these breakfast burritos. The ease with which they’re made comes in handy as they are the perfect hangover food. The last thing I want to do when hungover is think about anything…or do anything, cooking or otherwise. So these are a great throw together breakfast. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a pack of deer sausage in your freezer, don’t worry. Any kind of sausage will work or even bacon.
-
Smoked Oxtail Lasagna
For anyone that's ever had it you know that oxtail is one of the most underrated cuts of meat from the wonderful bovine. And yes, it is very much what the name indicates. It's a cut directly from the tail although rarely taken from oxen these days. This cut yields a super beefy flavor but is also very tough. That's why in this recipe I use two cooking methods. First, their time on the BBQ imparts a great smoky flavor. Secondly, the braise helps provide a nice tender cut just right for the shredding required for this lasagna.
-
Mushroom Soup
There is something special about a piping hot bowl of soup on a cold day. It warms you through in a way that very few other dishes can do. For many years, I thought Cream of Mushroom Soup was just a can of something that you added to other recipes for additional creaminess. That was until I had a delicious bowl of homemade Cream of Mushroom that was made not to be added to a casserole but made to enjoy all by itself...or with a sandwich. And while we're on the subject, this soup is special in that regard as well. There are very few sandwiches out there that don't…
-
French Onion Soup Poboy
Is there any more perfect food experience than a hot bowl of French Onion Soup on a chilly night in a cozy bistro setting? That's not a rhetorical question. If you can think of one better, I seriously want to know. I was enjoying that very experience with some friends when I had this sandwich idea.
-
Pizza Dough
Whenever you have a spur of the moment get together and don't have time to cook anything, what is the one thing you can buy that everyone will like? Pizza. Have you ever actually met anyone that doesn't like pizza? Sure, some people don't like anchovies or olives. Some people just want plain cheese. But, by and large, you are going to please the majority of people with a pizza.
-
Garlic Ginger Wings
To brine or not to brine? To marinate or not to marinate? These are only two of the many questions folks who enjoy cooking have to ask on a regular basis. My answer: sometimes yes to one, sometimes yes to both, sometimes no to both…you get where this is going. Each method has a different benefit or even a downfall. For example, brining or marinating large cuts of beef such as a chuck roast or brisket I find has little effect simply because the fibers are so dense and tough. I find poultry on the other hand, being a much lighter protein, takes well to both brining and marinating. Which…
