Dinner
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Red Beans and Rice
If Sunday is fun day, then Monday is most definitely not fun day. It means going back to work, going back to school, and having to do all those chores that were neglected in the way of brunch and bottomless mimosas. That's why historically, folks in the south loved cooking red beans on Mondays. You could throw everything in the pot and let it simmer the day away while you got caught up on the ever expanding chore list. Or conversely, thanks to modern technology, let them go in the slow cooker all day (which is what I like doing anyway).
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French Onion Soup
When the weather turns cold here in Southeast Louisiana (and by cold I mean anything below ninety degrees and one hundred percent humidity) most folks' thoughts go immediately to gumbo. I'm certainly not saying that mine don't. It is called gumbo weather for a reason. But sometimes on a cold and rainy night, you need the comfort of French Onion soup. Warm, oniony, and cheesy (not sure if oniony is a word but I don't care). Everything in the bowl just screams "stick to your ribs".
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Grilled Alligator with Crab Boil Gnocchi
People joke that there is nothing southerners won’t eat, provided of course it doesn’t eat us first. A pretty spot-on example of this is alligator. Even though alligator attacks are rare (I’m fairly certain there has never been a fatal alligator attack in Louisiana) it is still one of the more dangerous critters we can consume. Check out this Grilled Alligator with Crab Boil Gnocchi recipe.
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Roast Beef Poboy
Some things scream Southern cuisine without even trying. Gumbo, jambalaya, and poboys all let you know which region you're driving through if your GPS is broken and your sense of direction sucks. The Roast Beef Poboy is at the top of that list. The Roast Beef Poboy also has the distinction of being the first actual poboy. The two main versions of the Roast Beef Poboy you'll see around both contain a dark, beefy gravy. The difference lies in the meat. Some places serve the poboy with sliced, deli-style roast beef. While this version is still delicious, in my opinion, it takes a backseat to the number one way to…
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Homemade Pasta
This is a basic pasta dough recipe. I cut the pasta dough into lasagna noodles but this dough works for any type of pasta.
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Crawfish Bacon Cheesecake
Sometimes you come across food that folks will refer to as "stick to your ribs". This is one of those recipes that will stick to your ribs, your arms, and your legs. Seriously, do not plan on eating anything else the rest of the day if you make this recipe. I've always been a fan of the idea of taking a dish that is usually thought of as sweet and making it savory. This is a prime example of that.
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Tomato and Basil Farro Risotto
For the longest time, risotto to me fell into the once in a while, fancy kind of dish. Over the years, it has slid more into the stick to your ribs, served on a cold evening, comfort food category. And I don't know if I've ever encountered a more perfect recipe to fit that criteria than this one from Tuttorosso: Tomato and Basil Farro Risotto.
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Classic Italian Lasagna
I've always found lasagna to be a very interesting dish. The recipes and methods most everyone uses are always similar but it seems like every dish turns out just slightly different. This makes lasagna a very eccentric dish to cook.
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Hearty Beef Chili
Chili: As the dog days of summer draw to a close and the thermometer begins to drop, the thing I look forward to the most is being able to cook my hot soup stew-like recipes. Personally, I can eat dishes like gumbo, chilli, and soup on the hottest days of the summer. I understand though that most people like to wait for the Halloween decorations to start popping up before indulging in the warmer comfort foods which is cool...I guess.
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One Pot Shrimp and Artichoke Skillet
One of the most difficult things for the home cook is trying to come up with a meal that's both quick and healthy, especially during the work week when the amount of free time most of us have in the kitchen is very limited. This recipe is not only fast, healthy, and delicious but it all takes place in one pot! So, cleanup time is way easier. That'll give you more time to spend with your wife, husband, kids, or hundreds of cats.