Tag-Archive for » Vegetables «
13
Nov 2012
Nov 2012
These are my mom’s sweet potatoes. Her recipe is simply the best! No fuss or fanciness. Just smashed sweet potatoes “candied” ever so perfectly. During the holidays, they’re a must. It’s a family tradition my mom has carried out for as long as I can remember. And at every Thanksgiving and Christmas meal, I strategically spoon a generous serving onto my plate between the gravy-laden turkey slices and the Le Sueur green peas. That way, I can easily scoop up all those flavors into one forkful. Weird, I know. But that’s [ ... ]
Category: New Orleans Classics, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetables
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09
Nov 2012
Nov 2012
On this gorgeous day, at least where I am, I’m serving up another holiday helper. Yeah, I know. Artichoke Dip. Been there, done that. But mine is different. Well, a little. More importantly, I have to blog about it because it forces me to write down my recipe for my kiddos (and anyone else) so they can enjoy it for years to come. So here it is. My spin on this classic Southern staple. My recipe starts with the universal artichoke dip base: artichoke hearts, mayo and Parmesan cheese. From there, I kick it up with roasted red peppers, jalapenos, [ ... ]
Category: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays
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07
Nov 2012
Nov 2012
Do you all realize there are only two Thursdays between now and Thanksgiving? How did that happen? Why isn’t Thanksgiving on November 29, instead of November 22? I’m well aware of the fourth Thursday of November tradition, but we’re losing an entire week here! Can’t we buck the system just once? For that reason alone, I’m glad I’m not hosting dinner this year. That takes some pressure off. But I still need to make two side dishes that can be prepared in advance and travel well (as in 500 miles well) or that can be made with little time and [ ... ]
Category: Breakfast, Christmas, Main Dishes, New Orleans Classics, Pork, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetables
Tags: New Orleans Classics, Pork, Vegetables 2 Comments
08
Aug 2012
Aug 2012
Are you into creamed vegetables? Creamed corn maybe? What about creamed carrots or creamed peas? I’ve always been a fan of canned creamed corn. And my mom stills makes the best creamed carrots this side of the Bunny Trail. But I didn’t have creamed peas until I was in my late teens. The mother of a friend made them every Thursday night to serve alongside her weekly meatloaf and mashed potatoes dinner. I shared that meal with my girlfriend’s family many of times. And although the meatloaf and mashed potatoes were divine, [ ... ]
18
Jul 2012
Jul 2012
I remember the first time Chandler, my oldest, had fast food. It was a McDonald’s French fry, delightfully handed to her by the hubby who was driving the family back to Atlanta from one of our many trips home. Chandler was maybe four at the time. As she lifted that deep fried salt stick to her lips, I recall quietly praying she’d spit out the first bite and throw the rest across the car in total disgust. I wasn’t ready for my real-food-loving, avocado-hugging daughter to succomb to the evils of fast, processed imposters. But as I expected, she L-O-V-E-D [ ... ]
11
Jul 2012
Jul 2012
Loaded baked potatoes go great with any type of grilled meat or seafood. But pairing the two on a plate can be a challenge, especially when you’re having to split your time between the kitchen and the deck or if you’re grilling away from home. A delicious alternative is to make this Loaded Baked Potato Salad. It has all the glorious flavors of perfectly baked and loaded potatoes in one easy to prepare and serve dish. Like most mayo-based salads, this one is very good served at room temperature or cold.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad Recipe
3 1/2 pounds russet potatoes (about [ ... ]
06
Jul 2012
Jul 2012
Do you ever notice how some of your best kitchen creations are made on the fly? Pulled together spontaneously with whatever’s lurking in the fridge or lingering in the pantry? That’s the story behind this finger food. Because I hate to waste, especially real food … good food, I was stressed out about using up some leftover boiled shrimp and ripe and ready avocados I had on hand. My initial thought was to simply toss them in a salad with greens and a lemon vinaigrette. But as I was cleaning the greens, I remembered that I had a fresh loaf [ ... ]
Category: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays, Seafood, Vegetables
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08
Jun 2012
Jun 2012
Fest fever continues this weekend in New Orleans with the Creole Tomato Festival. This one’s held at the French Market and celebrates one of our favorite local crops, the Creole Tomato. Creole Tomatoes are juicy, meaty and firm thanks to South Louisiana’s rich soil and subtropical (hot and humid) climate. Unfortunately, the season for these bright red beauties is short and local consumption is high. So you have to travel to the Greater New Orleans area or neighboring river parishes to get them. To fully appreciate all that a Creole Tomato is, it’s best to eat them like a local. [ ... ]
Category: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays, Pork, Vegetables
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16
May 2012
May 2012
The week before last I made my monthly run to BJ’s, our mammoth wholesale club, where I stumbled upon these adorable gourmet baby carrots. I had to have them. They were so cute. They were the real McCoy too–as in true baby carrots. Not those mature, often tasteless “baby-cut” imposters they sell in damp plastic bags at the grocery store. As soon as I got home and before I even unloaded the car, I grabbed the two pound bag of carrots and ran inside to get them going. Within a few seconds, I had those babies perfectly aligned on a [ ... ]
24
Feb 2012
Feb 2012
I’m sharing a bit of food nostalgia with you on this Friday. It centers on Mock Oyster Dip, a glorious concoction of garlicky, cheesy goodness containing chopped broccoli and mushrooms meant to imitate the flavor and texture of oysters. Mind you, this is not French-Creole haute cuisine. It’s comforting New Orleans family finger food made with processed cheese and canned soup. It’s special because each bite awakens wonderful distant memories and important milestones. Over countless servings of warm Mock Oyster Dip that my family dished up at birthday parties, graduation parties and holiday dinners, I observed the various ways food [ ... ]
Category: Appetizers, Finger Food Fridays, Vegetables
Tags: Finger Food Fridays, Vegetables 7 Comments
