Archive for » 2011 «
11
May 2011
May 2011
Things have been crazy around here lately with end-of-school activities (field trips, field days, musical performances, graduations, parties and so on) and it’s during these hectic times that I turn to my stash of shortcut supper ideas.
These recipes contain at least one premade or premixed grocery store find and a short list of ingredients. Grilled Ranch Chicken is one of them. I pull it together with nothing more than a packet of Hidden Valley® Ranch® Dips Mix, olive oil and a whole chicken that’s been cut up. If you don’t like handling a whole chicken, you could try and [ ... ]
06
May 2011
May 2011
Shoepeg Corn Dip is a quick-fix, crowd-pleasing finger food perfect for Fridays or any other day of the week. Since my parents and in-laws are heading into town today to attend my youngest daughter’s First Communion and celebrate Mother’s Day, I’m doubling the recipe so we can graze on it throughout the weekend.
Shoepeg corn is nothing more than those small, narrow, white kernels of corn. You know, the ones that look like baby teeth? They hold up well in dips and salsas thanks to their thin yet firm skin. If you’re considering replacing the white corn with yellow in this [ ... ]
Category: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays, Snacks, Vegetables
Tags: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays 3 Comments
04
May 2011
May 2011
WOW! The first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ranks up there with the best of the best. I couldn’t wait to get back in front of the computer to tell you all about it! Granted, I could have Tweeted my way through it all to keep you in “real time.” I simply chose not to. I needed to disconnect. Truly live in the moment. Besides, my hands were full. Very busy. Occupied with great food and lots of cold adult beverages. But hey, it’s all good. I’m sharing some high points right here and now!
For starters, [ ... ]
Category: Crawfish, Gumbo, New Orleans Classics, Poor Boys, Pork, Roux, Seafood
Tags: New Orleans Comments off
29
Apr 2011
Apr 2011
It’s JazzFest Friday and Finger Food Friday y’all! The stars are aligned. Finally!!
If you’re heading down to the Fest today, there’s no doubt you’ll be eating some of the best finger food (and “fork food”) New Orleans has to offer. But for those of you who can’t attend, I’ve got the perfect recipe to keep you from feeling left out, Mini Cajun Meat Pies. These tiny, hand-held, savory bites are full of smoky andouille sausage and lots of Cajun spices and when made with frozen puff pastry sheets they can be prepared in less than an hour. They’re much smaller [ ... ]
27
Apr 2011
Apr 2011
We’re gearing up for JazzFest here at Raised on a Roux! It’s one of our favorite times of the year and an annual date weekend for me and the hubby (thanks to wonderful babysitting grandparents my mom, John, V & Poppy). Each year we visit the Fest with open minds and empty bellies and we always leave with at least one new piece of local art, one new musical artist to follow, full bellies and lots of fond memories.
If you need any information on the Fest, I strongly suggest you visit their official website. It covers everything from hotel accommodations [ ... ]
22
Apr 2011
Apr 2011
It’s the end of the week already and time for another installment of Finger Food Fridays.
One of the many food traditions in New Orleans surrounds the days of the week. We eat Red Beans and Rice on Mondays, some sort of spaghetti dish with Red Gravy on Wednesdays and seafood on Fridays. Most of us carry out these eating habits without a second thought. But each tradition comes packaged with its own set of stories. “Seafood Fridays,” for instance, is tied to the deep-rooted Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays, especially during Lent (which ends [ ... ]
Category: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays, Seafood
Tags: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays, Seafood Comments off
21
Apr 2011
Apr 2011
It’s early Thursday morning and luckily the house is still quiet. I’ve got about an hour before the kids’ feet hit the floor. I’ve been a little under the weather lately so the last thing I feel like doing is writing, cooking or eating (yeah, I know that’s hard to believe). But … the show must go on! Sunday is Easter and I want to prepare something special for the family. Since I’m lacking the energy to pull off a fancy five course holiday meal, I’m going to prepare something casually elegant. I’ll be [ ... ]
15
Apr 2011
Apr 2011
Did you know that today is NOT the 2010 tax deadline? Nope. It’s been extended to Monday the 18th because of Emancipation Day. While that’s clearly an important reason for an extension, I’ll bet the true intention behind pushing the date back is that the IRS didn’t want to interfere with Finger Food Friday! I’m showing my appreciation by preparing a throw-back finger food, Hot Crab Dip.
Hot Crab Dip was the it “hors d’oeuvre” of my youth. If you grew up in New Orleans or had a relative that did, you’ll probably recall the dip being [ ... ]
12
Apr 2011
Apr 2011
I have a new addiction–chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Their smoky-spiciness has me hooked. And lately I’ve been adding them to just about everything. Of course, you’d never know that because until now I haven’t posted any of those recipes. It’s just that one idea has lead to another and then another. And when I’m cranking up the creativity in the kitchen, the recipe writing takes a back seat. Not to worry, though. I have all of the fiery hot details jotted down somewhere and I will get each one posted. Eventually!
The one recipe I have finished is for my [ ... ]
08
Apr 2011
Apr 2011
Geez! I’m just realizing I haven’t posted anything new since last Friday. This crazy week just got away from me. The kids are on Spring Break, so I’ve been trying to do fun things with them in between finishing a couple of big “mommy & daddy projects” that unfortunately spilled over from last week. Those projects have also kept me away from the computer and out of the kitchen. But I’m finally catching my breath. Just in time for Finger Food Friday and the recipe du jour, Marinated Cheese.
I love, love, love this picking food! After all, cheese is my [ ... ]
