One of my neighbors is a young man who grew up on a dairy farm in the far northern reaches of Indiana. He's a veterinary dietition and took a job here in New Orleans working for Purina and moved last fall, just in time for Hurricane Ida. We've taken him into the family-- the boy loves to eat and his job takes him all over south Louisiana, so I've steered him to some really good off the beaten path restaurants.

His birthday is this weekend and my friend Karen and I volunteered to make him dinner. He requested bolognese, so I'm starting the sauce today for an all-day simmer, a night to age in the fridge, and I'll finish it off tomorrow afternoon. I'll make fat egg noodles from scratch, and we'll feast Saturday night. Karen's the baker so she's working on a cake.

Enjoy this week's recipes, stay safe, cool, and healthy, and, as always, let me know what's on your mind. 

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Susan Ford, Publisher and Editorial Director
Louisiana Kitchen & Culture

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Shrimp and Crawfish Fettuccini

This recipe comes from Cooking up a Storm, the cookbook that Marcelle Bienvenu and Judy Walker put together from the recipe archives of the Times Picayune, after receiving so many requests from subscribers who'd lost all their recipes in the floods after Katrina. Published in 2015, the book is a collection of reader favorites and classics; check it out, particularly if you're interested in old recipes. 

Smothered Chicken Fricassee

From one of the best Cajun cooks I know, Debbie Guidry Gautier over in Breaux Bridge, this is comfort food at its finest. The chicken will be fork tender, and the dumplings luscious.

White Bean and Tasso Soup

This is another old Cajun recipe; if you can't get your hands on tasso, look for smoked pork chops then go read this recipe for tasso from Chef John Folse. It'll give you an idea of the flavor profile tasso would bring to the dish.