Louisiana Favorites

Eggplant Rice Dressing

July 16, 2020 by Debbie 17 Comments

Eggplant Rice dressing is a side dish staple at my house in Southern Louisiana . Adding eggplant to simple rice dressing kicks it up a notch plus it adds flavor and moisture to the dish. It is also a great way to hide veggies, my youngest son is super picky and he always eats several servings of this . Growing up my mother made this dish instead of a traditional rice dressing . We had this as a side for almost every holiday but it is simple enough to have everyday, and we did. I never understood people saying they didn’t like eggplant because for most of my life this was the only way I had it , lol.

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Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

February 10, 2020 by Debbie 16 Comments

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya has always been on a regular rotation at my house, It is pure Louisiana comfort food. Here is the thing about traditional dishes from Louisiana, they are as diverse as the person cooking it. I can ask five of my neighbors to cook Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya and they will all be a bit different . The only thing that will have in common is rice, meat and possibly the Holy Trinity of vegetables . In Louisiana almost all traditional dishes start with onions , bell pepper and celery dubbed the Holy Trinity.

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Easy Beignets

January 12, 2020 by Debbie 5 Comments

I am all about making life easy and this is how these Easy Beignets came to light. Let’s talk about beignets for a minute. Is it a dessert or breakfast? Who cares , they are delicious. If you aren’t from Louisiana or visited one of the major cities you may not have ever had them. Beignets are pronounced Ben-yay… I know I know nothing in Louisiana is pronounced the way it looks. I mean we spell go with an X..Geaux . Don’t even get me started on Tchoupitoulas, I was an adult before I got that one. Beignets are basically a fried pastry or a french doughnut served hot and smothered with powdered sugar. They are fluffy in texture , fried until golden brown and very air like. You aren’t doing it right unless you inhale a little powdered sugar when you take your first bite ,lol. …

Boudin Dip

July 18, 2019 by Debbie 13 Comments

We all have that friend that doesn’t really cook . You know the one that always brings paper plates , napkins and rolls to a BBQ. So when my paper plate friend showed up with Boudin Dip to a party I knew I had to try it and boy it was delicious. Now this was several years ago and I couldn’t remember exactly what was in it. Since I could only remember the basic ingredients I just made it up and this is just so good. For those of you that don’t know what boudin is ..well it is truly a Louisiana treasure. It is a portable food in a sausage casing stuffed with ground meats, rice , vegetables and lots of spices. Where I am from there is no birthday party, BBQ, crawfish boil, baby shower, or tailgating event that there isn’t a tray of sliced boudin. It is a snack , appetizer , or meal and pure Louisiana comfort food. Let me be the first to say not all boudin is created equally and I am not about to start an argument of who has the best. This Boudin Dip is going to be a new staple at our house.

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Creamy Crawfish Baked Potatoes

March 23, 2018 by Debbie 1 Comment

Tis the season for crawfish and Creamy Crawfish Baked Potatoes!! While most people are excited about spring and daylight savings time here in Louisiana we are excited about crawfish season. Until recent years and videos shared on social media I thought EVERYONE would loved crawfish like we do. I never realized that our beloved mud bugs creeped people out, they are just tiny lobsters lol. I think everyone should experience a real crawfish boil at least once in their lifetime. It isn’t just about the food, it is the whole experience. It is an all day affair and social event better than any other cookout you will ever experience. …

Beignet Fries

February 7, 2018 by Debbie 11 Comments

Growing up in Louisiana there is food that I consider comfort food that most people have never heard of and beignets is top on my list. My first memory of eating beignets as a child is at the original Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. Eating french donuts on the edge of Jackson Square , listening to the jazz musicians playing on the street and looking up at the big ships pass on the Mississippi River. Yes I said looking up, strange but true lol. The smell of the donuts frying and powdered sugar in the air, this was all very magical to me. Now making these Beignet Fries run a close second to the real thing. If you want to try something a little easier try my Easy Beignets.

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Boudin Stuffed King Cake

January 26, 2018 by Debbie 5 Comments

Growing up in Southern Louisiana we kept our Christmas Tree up until New Years day. As soon as the tree came down a few days later on January 6 it was Twelfth Night and that marks the beginning Mardi Gras season. That means King Cakes and this Boudin Stuffed King cake is a twist on a Mardi Gras classic treat. Lake Charles holds a huge celebration where all the royalty from the previous year parade around in their majestic costumes and it is a festive evening. After that night previous courts pass their royal duties over to the next royal court and the Mardi Gras Balls begin .I have been going to this celebration for as long as I can remember and what this meant to me as a wide eyed chubby girl was KING CAKE SEASON. You see ,after twelfth night all the local super markets and bakeries have their delectable King Cakes ready to sell and this is another reason to adore Mardi Gras.

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Yummy Corn and Shrimp Soup

December 6, 2017 by Debbie 8 Comments

I had something totally different planned for dinner tonight but when I left work today it was cold and raining. You see, here in southern Louisiana the temperature gets beneath 50 degrees and we lose our minds . Temperatures in the lower 40’s , windy and raining I needed this bowl of spicy yumminess in my life . This soup is something I have been making for years and It is my go to comfort food when it is cold.

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