Cajun

Shrimp Po’boy Salad

July 30, 2018

I’ve been traveling to New Orleans for over three years now every month to work with my friend Joy, and I can’t even begin to describe the first time I visited. It’s a magical place with warm people and delicious food. The first time I ate a po’boy was with Julian, down at the French Quarter. We each ordered one and then ate them as we walked to a museum and it was magical experience. I always say that po’boys are the world’s simplest sandwich, they’re made with soft white bread loaves, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and pickles, yet they are so delicious. It’s weird because they’re not fancy at all, but still so amazing. The type of po’boy is completely your choice, with many different options, but the best in my humble opinion will always be the fried shrimp po’boys. Fried shrimp always has my heart. I wanted to recreate that experience at home, but in salad form. I’m a big fan of hearty salads that aren’t even that healthy for you because who really wants a healthy salad anyhow? You won’t get that from this site. Instead, you’ll get a fried shrimp salad loaded with croutons and remoulade sauce. Don’t sleep on this recipe. You’ll be doing yourself a disservice.

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Cajun Stuffed Pasta Shells

May 27, 2016

I was recently in New Orleans again this week, and every time I come back home I become “homesick” for the food over there. It’s probably without a doubt some of the best food I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. That’s quite a statement to make, but it’s so true. The people are amazing and the food is even better. If you’ve ever traveled there, I’m sure you can attest to this, and if you’ve never been, then I suggest you move it to the top of your “must visit” list because you’re missing out on a great cultural experience. My friend Joy lives there, and I’m fortunate to go out often to work with her. She has a handy New Orleans Section on her site with all of her recommendations of places you have to visit and eat and drink at. This kind of guide comes in hand when traveling somewhere new, and especially from a local who has experienced everything first hand. If you can’t travel right now, well have no fear because I have your back. Bring New Orleans to yourself! You deserve it. Try making these Red Beans and Rice Empanadas from the vault, for the perfect snack or appetizer to your Cajun inspired meal. Or give this Jambalaya Pizza a try when you’re feeling like you need to ramp up your pizza toppings. I mean, sure pepperoni is great but sometimes we need a little more, ya know? If you’re not a pizza fan, then make this Jambalaya Pot Pie instead because pot pies are the ultimate comfort food. If you need a cocktail to wash it all down, these Good Morning Margaritas have your name written all over them.

I made these Cajun Stuffed Pasta Shells in partnership with Go Bold With Butter, and I think now is the perfect time to share them with you. I love a good stuffed pasta shell recipe, and sometimes the spinach and sausage recipe I always make just doesn’t cut it. So I came up with this Cajun-inspired take on the classic and I might never look back. If you love jambalaya and gumbo, then you’re going to fall right in love with these. Trust me. It’s the perfect dinner to make when you’re feeling bored of all the dishes you make on a regular basis. Spice up your weekly dinner menu and take a trip down south without having to leave the comfort of your own home.

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Jambalaya Pot Pie

January 27, 2016

To celebrate the fact that I’m in New Orleans for the rest of the week, I bring to you this Jambalaya Pot Pie. It’s exactly what you think it is. Jambalaya meets chicken pot pie and they immediately go on a date, because everyone needs love. They hit it off right from the start, and can’t get enough of each other. Then one thing leads to another and before you know it…BOOOM…out comes this mega fusion crazy dish. It has all the makings of a traditional jambalaya, which happens to be one of my favorite Cajun dishes, but with a chicken pot pie look and feel to it. It’s what you serve for dinner when company is coming over and you want to impress them. Or what you serve your family when you’re bored and tired of the normal week to week meals you always make. Step out of the box and spice things up a bit. The people of New Orleans would want you to let loose. I want you to let loose. Explore more in the kitchen. You owe it to yourself.

I’m in New Orleans this week for a couple of reasons. One of which is to eat and drink as much as possible (that should go without saying, though). Whenever I make a trip out here, I have this constant internal struggle of wanting to eat everything in sight, and never having enough time (or space) to eat everything I’d like to. I do try my best though and give it all I have. Most importantly, I’m here to visit and get some work done with my friend Joy—we’re working on her next cookbook (the woman is a machine I swear to you). She’s doing all the work, I’m just here to photograph it, and convince her to stop working so we could get a drink.

I wanted to make sure we could all somehow enjoy the Big Easy together, so I thought the best way to go about this, is to share a New Orleans inspired recipe. In case you’re in need of more Cajun recipes to fuel you for the week, I’ve got you covered. This Jambalaya Pizza is calling out your name for your Friday night festivities. Friday night pizza party anyone? Red beans and rice is my second favorite New Orleans dish and I’ve gone ahead and turned it into portable pastries with these Red Beans and Rice Empanadas. You better believe that I’ll be eating an unhealthy amount of po’boys while I’m here, so why don’t you join me? These Fried Shrimp Po’boy Sliders are hard to resist. Need an excuse to drink in the morning? Don’t we all. These Good Morning Margaritas are inspired by a great restaurant in NOLA, called Elizabeth’s.

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Fried Shrimp Po’boy Sliders

June 2, 2015

I’m currently spending a few weeks in New Orleans, so in honor of such an occasion, I thought I’d share one of my favorites from the city. Fried Shrimp Po’boys…in slider form. Because we all know that sliders are always 100 times better than their original counterparts. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. In a city that is so rich with delicious cuisine, though, it seemed only right that I should mark the occasion with food. I find myself making food be the solution to everything. I think this is the only way to go. I’ve eaten at a few po’boy places in Nola while I’ve been down there, and although I’ve had some great sandwiches in each, the best to me is still Johnny’s in the French Quarter (I’m sure some people will yell at me and tell me I’m wrong). I’m no New Orleans expert and perhaps it’s a tourist trap, but to me (and my taste buds), it’s one of the best. I also think it’s partly because I first tried it with Julian. He got a catfish po’boy and I ordered the crawfish. We took it to go and then walked to the WWII museum eating our sandwiches along the way, and wishing we had ordered another one to share. Now we can eat as many po’boy sliders as we’d like and not feel guilty about it, because ten of these sliders count as one normal sized sandwich. It’s true.

I’m no stranger to sliders. Someone even referred to me as “The Slider King” of the world (that someone might’ve been me, but that’s okay). Sliders and I go way back. It’s a love affair that I don’t think will ever go away. And I don’t want it to. Some of my favorites from the site are Pot Roast Sliders, Fried Green Tomato and Shrimp Sliders, and Loaded Baked Potato Sliders, just to name a few. Here’s a hint, if you search for “Sliders” on the site you’ll be able to find many more. That’s free of charge for you because I like you guys so much. Maybe not as much as sliders, but still, you’re up there on my list.

If you’ve never visited New Orleans before and have always wanted to go, I highly recommend it. I can’t give you guys a trip (I’m not Santa Claus, or Oprah) but I will do the next best thing. I’ll give you the recipe for these po’boy sliders! Whaaat?! Say it ain’t so!! My generosity knows no bounds. Now you can feel like you’re right here with me. That’s pretty awesome. If you really think about it, I’m doing you a favor. You don’t have to pack and travel to the airport and get through security and fly on a plane and then have the best time ever, but all the while knowing you have to go back home inevitably and so you get depressed about it. You don’t have to go through all of that. I’m saving you from it. Instead, you can make a batch of these sliders and bring New Orleans to you. TO YOU! Isn’t that so much better?! I think it is. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go eat some more food while I’m here.

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Jambalaya Pizza: An Ode to New Orleans

April 10, 2015

New Orleans has got to be one of my all time favorite cities to visit. It’s up there with San Fransisco and New York. Very touristy of me to pick those three, but I can’t help it. It’s funny because I was born and raised in a touristy city myself and yet, I take it for granted. I drive down Hollywood all the time and I see all of the people there taking photos and I think to myself, “Why would anyone want to visit this place?” I wonder if that’s how locals in places like NY, SF and NOLA feel as well. New Orleans is such a beautiful place to explore, though. It’s filled with friendly people and there are so many things to see. It can be overwhelming at first, but once you get used to all of the people (mainly in the French Quarter) it becomes a completely different experience. I’ve had the opportunity to go a few times now, and I’m so thankful for it. It’s been an equal amount of work and play and the best part of it all is that I get to catch up and work with my friend and fellow cat Joy. I was so sad when she moved, but it’s given me the chance to visit a city I probably never would’ve before.

The city will always have this spooky feeling, for me. And it’s not only because of the ghost tours going on throughout the French Quarter. That’s only part of it. I think it has to do with the fact that the city itself is just so old and full of history. It probably doesn’t help that Joy told me a ghost story the second I saw her on my first visit. Aside from the ghosts and voodoo though, it’s an incredible city with amazing food. The food is really what sets it apart. I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while, but it never felt right or complete to me, until now. I think I just needed the perfect recipe to go along with it.

Julian has tagged along with me on a couple of visits now. We celebrated his recent birthday in New Orleans and let’s just say birthdays and New Orleans are the perfect match. We basically ate and drank our way through the city, much like we always do everywhere we go. We did all of the touristy things like eat beignets at Cafe Du Monde and drank all of the Bloody Marys for breakfast (through brunch). Yet some of our favorite things weren’t all that grand. Like walking in the rain from one part of the city to the other. Or drinking a few Breakfast Margaritas at an out-of-the-way joint.

I think it’s important to go out and explore a city you’ve never been to before and visit places that are off the beaten path. You don’t know what you might find, plus it’s always great to ask the locals where they go because those places are always 1 million times better than where everyone else goes. You don’t even have to spend money on travel. Go out and explore your own city. Make an effort to try restaurants you’ve never tried or drive down to a nearby city you’ve never visited. Do some research online and go out on an adventure. Put yourself in a tourist’s shoes and see your city as if it’s the first time you’re experiencing it. I guarantee you’ll have a lot of fun and might even discover a few things.

What are some of your favorite cities to visit? I want to know! Leave a comment down below with your favorite city with the best restaurant, dish or drink you’ve ever had while visiting. I’d love to read all about it. Or just tell me about a local spot you always go to where you live. I’m always looking for great suggestions! Julian and I are obsessed with a sushi place in Los Angeles that we go to every Thursday. Is it a problem if everyone in the restaurant remembers you and knows exactly what you’ll order? I think it’s kind of cool to have a place like that. If you’re ever in Los Angeles I can give you the longest list of things to do and things to eat while you’re here.

Last year I wrote a post similar to this one, the first installment in a series I didn’t even think about doing at the time. Now it kind of makes sense and I think it’ll be fun to continue with the theme. Sausage and Pickled Jalapeño Pizza: An Ode to San Fransisco was my pizza obsession for the longest time after my last trip to The Golden Gate City. I tried to replicate a pizza pie I devoured there, as best I could. Julian called me the other day, after work, convinced he had just come up with the greatest pizza idea ever, he suggested Jambalaya Pizza to me and it all sort of made sense after that. An ode to New Orleans was a must.

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Red Beans and Rice Empanadas

January 23, 2015

Each time I take a trip to New Orleans I become more and more infatuated with the food there, and the people in general, but really the food. It’s some of the best food I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. ENTIRE LIFE. Yes that might be the biggest statement I’ve probably said in my 25 years of living, but it’s also the most truest sentence I’ll ever say. If you were to ask me what my favorite dish/meal/restaurant has been, I’d go through a series of complicated but meticulously thought out reactions. My first would be a slap to your face (from pure shock of course). The next stage would be me calling you crazy. You’ve lost your mind. I can’t pick just one thing to be my all-time favorite. That’s madness! Madness I tell you! An impossible feat. I’d then probably just pick something because the pressure would eventually get to me. No need to hold a gun to my head, I’ll choose. You win.

I’ve basically eaten my way through the entire city and I have no regrets. Except maybe not eating seconds of everything. The one thing though that completed my life when I first tried it, since you’re forcing me to pick and all, would be red beans and rice. It’s insanely delicious and yet ridiculously simple. You’d think that my favorite dish would be super fancy and have all these exotic ingredients like truffles and caviar and what not, but no. That’s not the case at all. This dish sums up my taste and what I prefer in my regular day to day life. A combination of simple ingredients and flavors coming together to create something out of this world. Sure it’s a wee bit time consuming, but how else are you supposed to get all of that punch-you-in-the-mouth flavor?

If I’m going on and on about one dish, it’s because it’s that good. If you’ve had it before and love it just as much as I do, step right up to the front and give me a virtual hi-five because you’re my new best friend. If you’ve tried it and didn’t care for the dish, let’s not talk about it. I’ll pretend like you didn’t just break my heart. Perhaps though you haven’t had a plate of finger-licking red beans and rice yet. You know what I think? I think you should give it a go and try making it for yourself. You might be surprised what a star you can be in the kitchen with this dish. I couldn’t give you a simple recipe though, you know me well enough by now to not expect that. Instead, I wanted to crank things up a notch by turning my favorite cajun dish into my new favorite appetizer with these red beans and rice empanadas. It’s everything you didn’t know you wanted.

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