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Blackened Shrimp Caesar Salad
When I walked outside this morning to fill the bird feeders, I withered like a delicate flower. Seeing as how I am not a flower (nor delicate), this is my poetic way of telling you it was already scorching hot at 8AM. So how does a withered flower combat a hot day that will only get hotter? Blackened Shrimp Caesar Salad, of course! This salad is 200% awesome. 50% because cool + creamy Caesar dressing 50% because piquant + spicy blackened shrimp 50% because crunchy + garlicky croutons 50% because rich + sapid Parmesan cheese Actually, it’s probably more like 300% awesome. (You’ll agree once you dive in.) It’s a…
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Summer Watermelon Mojito
Clear your calendar. Summer in a glass is coming your way! When I think of fruity tropical drinks, I think RUM. And when I think of summer fruits, I think WATERMELON. So when I get to thinking and concocting in my head, the basic math side of my brain tells me that RUM + WATERMELON = WATERMELON MOJITO! (Check my math on that, okay?) Whatever your plans are for today, cancel them. Run to the store. Grab some watermelon, chop it up, and stick it in the freezer. Then you can pull it out when you are ready to suck down create these dangerously delightful Summer Watermelon Mojitos! All you…
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Crunchy + Garlicky Croutons
This is an open letter to Mrs. Kitchens, my former neighbor and babysitting employer. Dear Mrs. Kitchens, There was this one occasion when I babysat your kids that I found a container of crunchy bread chunks in the pantry. Those chunks were so savory + buttery that I started eating them–just one or two each time I walked through the kitchen. What harm was there in eating a few toasted pieces of bread? Well, I am not sure what happened next…things are a little foggy…but the next thing I remember was seeing the bottom of the container, unobstructed. I had eaten ALL the bread. So I write this open letter…
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Quick + Easy Blackened Shrimp
A gold star on my forehead. There was nothing I treasured more than that sticky foil star, smack dab between my eyes. I intended to wear it the entire day, as a trophy, a distinction. Unfortunately, within the hour my forehead was glistening with perspiration and the star lost its grip. Such is life in New Orleans where the weather is either balmy, hot, or ooh-wee chile’ scorching. What had I done to receive such a high honor? I cleaned my plate. Almost to the point of licking. I was at K-Paul’s, Paul Prudhomme’s restaurant, experiencing blackening seasoning for the first time. On redfish, I recall. Redfish seasoned and seared…
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Vietnamese Shredded Chicken + Noodle Salad
I wish everyone reading this post could jump through the screen and taste this Vietnamese Shredded Chicken + Noodle Salad! It is bursting with bright colors + savory flavors + sundry textures. I am scarfing down another heaping helping right now. It’s a good thing I am writing and not talking because my mouth is full and NO ONE wants to see that. I was craving this Vietnamese Shredded Chicken + Noodle Salad as I wanted to make something substantial yet light. This salad nails both of those qualifiers. The chicken adds a lot of substance, as do the noodles, while the vinegar-based dressing keeps it bright. (Excuse me while…
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Creamy Chipotle + Lime Dressing + Dip
Here’s a quick and easy recipe for you to make while you are gulping down sipping the drink I hooked you up with on Tuesday. (Remember? The Spicy Pineapple + Jalapeno Margaritas?) If you don’t remember Tuesday, that means you didn’t read my post (and you really should) OR you have had soooo many of those cocktails that you can’t remember much at all (thank you for reading, and you’re welcome). So here is a perfect weekend dip–something you can throw together in a flash (really, just dump and stir). Put it on your burgers or grilled corn or fries or chips or vegetables or your fingers…(this is a NO…
- 4th meal, appetizers + hors d'oeuvres, breakfast + brunch, comfort food, party food + snacks, sandwiches + roll-ups
Toast 6+ Ways
Toast is one of my ultimate comfort foods. When I was very little, toast was front and center of my morning routine with my father. I was his official self-appointed toast maker. Every morning, as he was shaving, I would prepare his toast. How many times had I under toasted the bread or was overzealous with the butter or the dollop of my mom’s homemade peach preserves? Who knows, because my sweet dad said it was “absolutely perfect!” every.time. Dad and I took turns fixing each others’ toast for many years. Toast was our love language. Toast was our thing. Today’s toast transcends the white bread stereotype. It is no…
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Lemony Creme + White Chocolate Trifle
This Lemony Creme + White Chocolate Trifle is almost too pretty to eat! ALMOST. When the weather starts to get balmy (and stays that way for 5 months), my go to relief is LEMONS. I love lemons. I also love trifle. I do not love baking. There. I said it. I DO NOT BAKE. Suffice it to say, my favorite kind of dessert is a no-bake dessert. Hence, this Lemony Creme + White Chocolate Trifle. Trifles are always a win because they look so elegant without a lot of fuss. You do not even have to turn on the oven to make this gorgeous citrusy delight. All you have to…
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Dirty Dalmatian
Have you ever laid your lips on a cocktail, and your first thought is, “Uh-oh”? As in, “Uh-oh, this concoction has some kick to it!” or “Uh-oh, I may end up drinking quite a few of these!” or “Uh-oh, these Dirty Dalmatians won’t last very long around here!” Meet your new best friend—the Dirty Dalmatian. This Dirty Dalmatian is a complementary amalgamation of Black Peppercorn Not-So-Simple Syrup and fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice. When you sip it, you feel a rush of warmth in your throat swilled away by cold + refreshing + tangy acid. I call it a Dirty Dalmatian because the peppers have commingled with the syrup for…
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Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Bites + Ginger-Soy Butter
I wanted to call this recipe Seared Tuna and the Puddle of Love, but The Man nixed that straight outta the gate. Too weird, he said. You’re weird, I said. I love you, he said. Same, I said, and then sulked my way back to the kitchen, my cooking metaphor not having passed muster. You have several options for serving this Sesame Crusted Ahi: as a first course or a party app; sliced on top of a salad; or as entree steaks. Whichever you choose, be sure to use the freshest tuna steaks and pat lots sesame seeds into them (your rule of thumb is about 4 tablespoons of sesame…
