One of my favorite cookie recipes, perfect for Christmas, is linked at the bottom of this promotion. It's in my first cookbook, My Louisiana Kitchen, which will ship next week in time for Christmas. Details, a peek inside, and ordering information are below. It will make a great gift for you, and for all the foodies on your list. It finished out at 192 pages and has more than 140 recipes, a combination of new recipes and reader favorites from over the years. Many of them are my personal favorites, som ...Continue Reading

Big announcement! My first cookbook, My Louisiana Kitchen, is ready and will ship in time for Christmas. Details, a peek inside, and ordering information are below. It will make a great gift for you, and for all the foodies on your list. It finished out at 192 pages and has more than 140 recipes, a combination of new recipes and reader favorites from over the years. Many of them are my personal favorites, some multi-generational. I think you'll enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed putting it together. Click ...Continue Reading

November 29,  2024 Leftovers! One of the best things about a good Thanksgiving meal is that you usually have plenty of leftovers. I had turkey and mashed potatoes for breakfast yesterday, Jim had a piece of his pumpkin spice cake with his coffee. I only made 2 quarts of turkey stock this year because there were just three of us for dinner and now I regret not making more. SO- I'm going to buy some more turkey legs and wings and make another pot, it was that good. This year I've added 1-2 Roma tomatoes and a ...Continue Reading

Big announcement! My first cookbook, My Louisiana Kitchen, is ready and will ship in time for Christmas. Details, a peek inside, and ordering information are below. It will make a great gift for you, and for all the foodies on your list. It finished out at 192 pages and has more than 140 recipes, many of them personal favorites, plus reader favorites from over the years. I think you'll enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed putting it together. Click to order below, or call; drop me a note if you have any questions. H ...Continue Reading

November 22, 2024 Thanksgiving is here!  If you don't have your menu quite set yet, I have compiled a list of suggestions here. We had a big family get-together last month for my nephew's wedding, so Thanksgiving is going to be really laid back. I'm going to brine a turkey breast and put together small batches of our favorite sides. Jim's in charge of dessert; not sure he knows that yet! My key ingredient to a tasty Thanksgiving dinner is a basic turkey stock. It simmers on the stove all night, and we w ...Continue Reading

November 15,  2024 Cooler weather, finally! But I'm not ready to break out the gumbo pot yet. I think we're going to put something on the grill this weekend; it'll be too chilly, and too dark, pretty soon. For the recipes this week, first up, a classic: Leah Chase's take on oyster dressing. Next up, a decadent artichoke and seafood dip that will be more than welcome at any holiday gathering. And finally, true comfort food from the Gibson's, a multi-generation family of shrimpers: Grits a Ya-Ya. It has rich a ...Continue Reading

November 8,  2024 Three weeks to Thanksgiving! We're planning a very small dinner, just me, Jim, and a friend or two, so probably a roasted turkey breast, unless I decide to order a really small turkey. Our extended family got together for my youngest nephew's wedding late October so that was our fall family shindig. I had Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts in mind when I selected the recipes this week First up is a sweet potato casserole with a pecan topping; look for fall harvest pecans for the freshest, an ...Continue Reading

October 25,  2024 I can't believe it's November, but here we are. Thanksgiving is 4 weeks from yesterday, and Christmas is less than 8 weeks away. Some my friends ride in Mardi Gras parades, and we've already started decorating their specialty throws—there are birthdays in January and February, so Mardi Gras will be here before we know it. For the recipes this week, first up is a sweet garlic/ginger shrimp dish. You'll want to serve it over rice, ideally Japanese sticky rice seasoned with sushi vinegar, but ...Continue Reading

October 25,  2024 The Swifties descended on New Orleans this week, with signs, posters, and specials popping up all over town. It greatly complicates my niece's arrival at the airport tonight, but the business sure is good for the city. For the first two recipes this week, I turned to a cookbook I'd forgotten I had (believe it or not, among the 500 or so, that's unusual): Milk Street Fast and Slow: Instant Pot cooking at the speed you need. It includes a wide range of recipes, each with detailed instructions ...Continue Reading

October 19,  2024 My sister, my niece, and her wife are flying in later in the week for my nephew's wedding on Saturday. I can't wait to see everyone, and I'm happy for the young couple. It's going to be a whirlwind trip for my niece, but my sister will say for a few days. For the recipes, let's start with a classic shrimp bisque from Broussards. It's not difficult to make, and it's oh so delicious to eat. Next, an easy Italian pork chop that begs for a little pasta served on the side. And finally, from  ...Continue Reading