Chicken thighs, seasoned and seared, then slow simmered in a rich, dark roux with the trinity, potatoes and boiled eggs.

Cajun Chicken Stew with Potatoes and Egg

A chicken stew made with the trinity and a roux is pretty common in Cajun country, whether it's with or without the addition of potatoes or boiled eggs.

Adding either of those to a stew or gumbo was common, potatoes to make a stew fill more bellies and boiled eggs to extend the protein because, at least at one time, eggs were a pretty inexpensive source of protein that would substitute for a lack of meat.

Economics aside, it's still a tradition in many families!

Catfish fillets, dredged in blackening seasonings and cooked in a hot cast iron skillet, served over Cajun Rice Pilaf and finished with an etouffee sauce with crawfish.

Blackened Catfish with Crawfish Etouffee

Southerners have been blackening foods since Paul Prudhomme came up with this method many years ago. Heavy seasonings seared into a piece of protein is heaven on a plate, and most of us in the Deep South have eaten it in some form or another in our lives.

It started with redfish, and seafood is most common here along the Gulf Coast of course, with catfish certainly taking a top spot on the list. These are the gorgeous filets I used this round.

Crawfish Monica Copycat

Spicy crawfish in a rich and creamy butter and cream sauce, doused generously with Cajun seasoning, and tossed with rotini pasta.

Crawfish Monica

This is my copycat recipe for Crawfish Monica, a spicy, rich and creamy crawfish and pasta dish, extremely popular and once found only at a booth at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - a long running music event held in New Orleans. With two stages of soul-stirring music, from jazz, to gospel, to Cajun and zydeco, rock, funk, blues, Caribbean and so much more, and more southern, Cajun, Creole and international foods than you can shake a baton at y'all.  If you've never been, you really should put it on your bucket list for sure. Check it out here.

Super Easy Shortcut Shrimp Etouffée

An easy shortcut cheater etouffee that uses cream soup as a roux shortcut and works well for both shrimp and crawfish.

Cheater Shrimp Etouffée

Before you scoff at the ingredients in this shortcut method, I say give it a try.

I feel certain you will be surprised.

It's a technique I learned many years ago from Sissy, a friend of mine from Starkville, Mississippi. I was at her house one day when I watched her whip this up while we stood in the kitchen chatting, and well, I was both fascinated and skeptical when I saw the secret ingredient.

Shrimp in a creamy pasta sauce over pasta.

Creamy Shrimp and Pasta

Mealtime has been pretty simple around here with all the yardwork goin' on, and I need to get to the grocery store too!

The leaves are steady falling out there, which if any of you have to deal with this every spring (or fall, depending on your tree), you understand the frustration. No sooner do you get them up, and sweep your walkway before it looks like you never touched it! But ... if you wait and don't keep at it, well, not only is the job MUCH bigger, but those leaves are smothering that grass up underneath that is trying to sprout and crowd out the weeds!

Cajun and Creole Recipes

Gumbo, Rice Dressing, Creole Stuffed Peppers, Jambalaya, Courtbouillon, Boulettes, Crawfish Fettuccine, Natchitoches Pies, Shrimp Casserole, Dirty Rice & More!  

Roux

10 Minute Microwave General Purpose Roux
Dark Oven Roux
Homemade Gravy Basics

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Cajun and Creole Favorites



Crawfish Etouffée

Cajun Rice Dressing

Crawfish Monica

Cajun Courtbouillon

Spaghetti Daube in Creole Gravy

Shrimp Sauce Piquant

Creole Stuffed Peppers

Cajun Shrimp Dip


Grits and Grillades

Creole Meatloaf with Tomato Gravy

Creole Smothered Steak


Oven Baked Cajun Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Cajun Chicken Fricassee - Smothered Chicken and Gravy

Shrimp and Brown Gravy with Homemade Mashed Potatoes

Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Shortcut Red Beans & Rice

Cajun Cabbage Au Gratin Casserole

Cajun Shrimp Pilaf

Seafood and Eggplant Dressing

Cajun Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Cajun Beef and Pork Boulettes with Brown Sauce


Crawfish Velvetta Fettuccini

Crabmeat Au Gratin

Shrimp Casserole

Jambalaya with Chicken, Smoked Sausage and Shrimp


Seafood and Okra Gumbo with Shrimp, Crab and Oysters

Super Easy Shortcut Crawfish or Shrimp Etoufee

Shrimp Creole

Chicken and Andouille Gumbo


Natchitoches Meat Pies

Shrimp Stuffed Pistolettes

Stuffed Crab


Cajun Dirty Rice

Cajun Sticky Chicken

Skillet Cajun Chicken and Gravy





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