Frozen Mojito
The scent of fresh mint permeates this slushy cocktail, and the squeezed lime adds a pucker to the punch of rum that defines the perfect Frozen Mojito. Time to cool down! Summer days in Louisiana can be notoriously hot; I mean sweltering, suffocating hot. Hot enough to spend half the day in the pool sipping…
Beef and Broccoli with Jasmine Rice
Chunks of ground beef and florets of perfectly cooked broccoli come to life in this sassy, saucy combination of flavors. It’s spicy, sweet, and when spooned over aromatic jasmine rice, it could be the perfect dish. Sometimes culinary inspiration is found in the simplest of places. Recently, … [Read More...]
Crabmeat-Stuffed Artichoke
When I saw the large artichokes stacked high at the produce stand, I knew in an instant that crabmeat-stuffed artichoke would be the perfect dish for a summertime appetizer. It was time to get stuffing. Though hardly Cajun, globe artichokes are actually a cultivated variety of thistle. But, … [Read More...]
The Bottle Rocket – Cherry Mint Vodka Soda
Fireworks are flying this 4th of July at the Grahams with my Cherry Mint Vodka Soda, aka The Bottle Rocket. This cocktail explodes with flavor! The ease of this recipe is that it only requires a few key ingredients, but to do it right takes an extra step. Fresh mint leaves are essential, and … [Read More...]
Summer Squash Soup
Slow simmered and puréed into a smooth, bisque-like creaminess, my Summer Squash Soup explodes with the fresh flavors of the season. Spiced with a light hand, I love how the vegetables shine brightly with just a hint of mint and the gentle bite of sweet onion. While I confess to eating … [Read More...]
Crawfish Cannelloni
With a sauce of creamy béchamel spiked with Louisiana crawfish layered over stuffed pasta, my Crawfish Cannelloni is baked bubbly hot. And thanks to my sister, this is one of the classic dishes that helped propel my lifelong culinary journey. My sister Marie Graham Huguet introduced me to a … [Read More...]
Pork Mignons with Pears
Medallions of pork brined in pear nectar and wrapped in smoky bacon are just the start of this showstopper of a dish. Sauce it with fresh red pears laced with a punch of sage, and you have a recipe to remember. You can find pork tenderloin in most supermarkets, and this convenient item is the … [Read More...]
Fillet of Flounder with Crabmeat Dressing
Layers of flavor elevate this dish! The punch of saffron and lemon in the smooth velouté sauce contrasts the sweet blue crab and fresh Gulf fish in this Fillet of Flounder with Crabmeat Dressing. This recipe is exceptional in every way. Of all the coastal Louisiana fish species, flounder is … [Read More...]
Fettuccine with Softshell Crabs Amandine
Crispy softshell crabs crown buttery pasta infused with lemon, garlic, and toasty almonds for an unexpected taste explosion. The best of two culinary worlds collide in this delicious recipe. New Orleans is known for its Sicilian influence as immigrants settled the French Quarter, bringing … [Read More...]
Pan Seared Grouper with Mango Salsa and Coconut Rice
Lightly pan seared in coconut oil and served over a bed of jasmine rice perfumed with freshly grated coconut, this Grouper with Mango Salsa is an island recipe that brings back memories of a time long ago. Ask my daughter Lauren, and she will tell you the best family vacation she’s ever taken … [Read More...]
Fried Whole Catfish
Fried crispy golden brown, the taste and texture of eating catfish close to the bone is a rare treat these days. But with this recipe, I’m out to bring back an almost forgotten dish. There was a time in my youth that dining out for dinner usually meant a road trip. Small-town life in the 50s … [Read More...]
Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic
This Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic will forever redefine the complexity of flavor that comes from these pungent little pods that tingle, tantalize, and tangle the taste buds. As the chicken roasts and releases its inner juice into the pot, it combines with the sweet scent of garlic and wine … [Read More...]
Creole Fried Shrimp and Smoked Gouda Grits
The taste explosion of these firecracker-hot Louisiana shrimp against the backdrop of cheesy stone-ground grits is a marriage of culinary cultures. Shrimp and grits are a Southern tradition that usually gets shortchanged in the competitive culinary landscape of Louisiana. While folks in the … [Read More...]
Cajun Meatballs and Peppers
I love this dish for the tantalizing flavors that surprise you at every bite. Dark, beefy gravy encases tender meatballs accented with the punch of sweet peppers in this delectable Cajun recipe. When sweet bell peppers begin flooding the market, I load up. Red, green, yellow, orange, I love … [Read More...]
Strawberry Muffins
Scratch-baking a batch of strawberry muffins sounds like a lot of work for a fruit that is so easily consumed simply piled high atop a scoop of ice cream or morning bowl of cereal, but there is a reason. When baked, Louisiana strawberries take on a deeper and richer taste--a syrupy sweet depth of … [Read More...]
Pork Chops with Apple Onion Gravy
Pork and apples are a combination that I can’t resist. The sugary burst of juices from the fruit brings out the sweetness of the pork, and when rounded out with the bite of onions and a hit of tart mustard, this dish is a flavor explosion. An essential for this dish is to source thick, … [Read More...]