Archive for » 2011 «
21
Jun 2011
Jun 2011
I have another yummy basil recipe for you to try. It’s Basil Chicken Salad. Think big chunks of chicken coated in a creamy mixture of fresh basil, pungent garlic and sharp Parmesan. Sounds good, doesn’t it? It’s a nice departure from the chicken salad we ate as kids. There’s no celery, no fruit and absolutely no pickle relish. Just a handful of bold ingredients that become more delicious over time.
To take full advantage of these wonderful flavors as they develop, I’ve come up with a three-day plan for eating this chicken salad. On day one, after the salad has [ ... ]
17
Jun 2011
Jun 2011
Roasted fingerlings are all the rage in my house right now. My whole gang loves munching on these odd-shaped potatoes. They have thin skins and are perfectly portioned too. So nothing goes to waste (every mom has to love that). I pop them in a hot oven for twenty-minutes and boom! Tiny tender tubers. I usually serve them as a snack straight out of the oven. Although tonight, I’m preparing a robust Romesco Sauce to dip them in. I thought that would make a great dish for a Finger Food Friday fete!
Romesco sauce is a relative newcomer to my recipe [ ... ]
10
Jun 2011
Jun 2011
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the family veggie garden is off to a promising start. Our herb garden is thriving too. This year we’ve planted rosemary, lemon thyme, pineapple sage and basil. The rosemary and lemon thyme get ample attention in my kitchen in dishes such as Barbecue Shrimp and Grilled Lamb Chops. The pineapple sage is new to me and my garden–I’m exploring ways to use it with pork and incorporate it into cocktails and maybe even ice cream. I’ll let you know if I have any success with that. [ ... ]
07
Jun 2011
Jun 2011
One of the many things I’m proud of is my kids’ affinity for fruits and vegetables. Among the three of them, they eat almost all of them. Unfortunately, though, they don’t all favor the same ones. That means some days I’m preparing two or three different fruit bowls or vegetable sides. But that’s okay. While I will not succumb to the demands of different meals (thankfully, that has never been an issue in this house), preparing two or three different fruits or vegetables a couple of days a week is no big deal. Most of my fresh fruit [ ... ]
03
Jun 2011
Jun 2011
Although the calendar has not yet recognized the season, it’s summer around here. Temps are climbing close to 100, rain is scarce and the mosquitoes are hungry. And while the oppressive heat tends to diminish appetites, I think we’d all agree that it has quite the opposite effect on thirst. This warm weather eating and drinking issue had me at a crossroads for today’s Finger Food Friday. I couldn’t decide if I should share a crisp and cool picking food or something a bit more substantial to help absorb all the extra brewkies that may be [ ... ]
27
May 2011
May 2011
Spring is a great time of year to visit New Orleans. In addition to the near-perfect weather and usual attractions, there are festivals gallore! These “weekend socials” bring families, friends and communities together to pay homage to the City’s unique melange of culture, cuisine and commerce. Today, for instance, marks the beginning of the 38th Annual Greek Fest at the Hellenic Cultural Center near City Park. This 3-day extravganza celebrates all there is to love about the Greek culture, which firmly planted its foot in New Orleans soil back in the 1850s–did you know the very first Greek community established [ ... ]
24
May 2011
May 2011
In New Orleans and throughout most of Louisiana, white rice rules. Even in today’s more health conscious kitchens, it continues to be the predominant starch of the region. Any attempt to sever the relationship between this shiny white grain and time-honored culinary classics such as red beans and rice, gumbo, jambalaya and etouffee, could have you looking over your shoulder and wondering, “Who put the gris gris on me?” The fear of evil spells aside, there is room in even the New Orleans diet for other–more nutritious–grains. It simply has to be on the right plate at the right time.
Quinoa [ ... ]
Category: Side Dishes
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20
May 2011
May 2011
Hey everyone! Welcome to this week’s edition of Finger Food Friday. Today I’m sharing a New Orleans finger food classic, Barbecue Shrimp. Let’s see. How can I describe them? Warm … buttery … spicy … aromatic … savory … tangy … piney … juicy … peppery … woodsy … garlicky … lusty … exciting … dramatic … and last, but definitely not least, gloriously messy! The dish was created back in the 1950s in the restaurant kitchen of Pascal’s Manale in Uptown New Orleans. Nowadays, they can be found on just about every menu in the City.
As much as I [ ... ]
Category: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays, Main Dishes, New Orleans Classics
Tags: Finger Food Fridays, Shrimp Recipes Comments off
18
May 2011
May 2011
When the portobello mushroom craze hit the food world in the late 1980s, I reluctantly embraced it. Like most New Orleanians, I wasn’t easily swayed by this trendy new ingredient. And quite honestly, that balsamic marinated grilled version that initially flooded restaurant menus was hardly appetizing–especially when compared to the delectable seafood stuffed white buttons I was accustomed to. At the same time, however, I felt compelled to like them and learn how to successfully cook with an ingredient which, up to that point, I had only read about in the food mags. Well it’s [ ... ]
13
May 2011
May 2011
The inspiration for today’s finger food and cocktail comes straight from the Wild West courtesy of Cowboy Cocktails. I was drawn to this fun read some 10 years ago after learning how committed Grady Spears (chef, co-author and former cowhand) was to his Texas roots and cowboy culture. His collection of “tasty vittles” and “Boot Scootin” beverages, while innovative and intriguing, honor the centuries-old traditions of chuck wagon cooking. He understands the importance of protecting and preserving the West Texas cowboy cuisine and he “cooks his culture” just like I cook mine here at Raised on a Roux.
For this [ ... ]
