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Off the Tray

Sometimes I think appetizers are the hardest recipes to come up with. We attach ourselves to a few winners, but soon enough they become overdone and boring. It took the seven-layer dip about 20 years to move off the popularity…

Fields of Red

One of those things I wanted to do and never got around to was writing to LSU food scientists asking them to stop making our Louisiana strawberries more like California’s. In other words, large and shippable. Maybe others complained because…

De la cuisine: The Herbalist

This is the time of year I plan meals around what I can find in my garden or at local farmers markets. Fresh herbs — sweet basil, mint, thyme, rosemary, oregano, chives, lemon balm — are flourishing. Creole tomatoes are…

Wholly Good

I never enjoyed a restaurant more than the former Genghis Khan on Tulane Avenue, where for a moderate price you could hear piano and violin accompanied opera while eating whole fish and kimchi, among other Korean dishes. The whole…

A Royal Dish

At my first Carnival parade party after moving to New Orleans, I enjoyed a well-seasoned meat and gravy dish served over grits. Upon saying goodbye to the hostess, I heard a guest say, “The grillades were delicious.” So I asked…

De la cuisine: Mardi Gras Munching

Mardi Gras is late this year — March 5. The latest it can be is March 9 and the earliest it can be is Feb. 3. Every year, no matter on what date is falls, it’s either “early or late.”…

Chili Ways for Chilly Days

Although Texans live next door, we are miles apart when it comes to cooking. Two ingredients bring us together, however, and they are beans and peppers, usually prepared very differently except for one big dish - chili. With some cooks,…

Christmas Revival

Carols in the Quarter, bonfires on the levee and Celebration in the Oaks set the mood for a New Orleans Christmas along with great food traditions from the past. Predominantly Catholic residents of the 1800s fasted before midnight Mass on…

Thanksgiving Ambrosia

Growing up in Memphis, I always feasted on ambrosia at holiday time. The day before Thanksgiving or Christmas, my mother would crack fresh coconuts with a hammer out on the driveway and peel and chop the oranges. It took hours…

Dessert Dreams

With the holidays almost upon us, dessert fantasies are a common occurrence — pies, cakes, cookies, candies, all manner of sweets. I love every one of them, but I have a special place in my heart for ice creams and…

All Treat, No Trick

They say the weather is beautiful everywhere in October. Because it is one of our most comfortable months, I try to stay at home and enjoy the snappy chill in the air and the first chance for hot soups.…

De la cuisine: Autumnal Feast

PICTURED, ABOVE Rather than offer dinner rolls, you can opt to garnish the soup when serving with crispy croutons. These may be stored in an airtight container (after cooling completely) for up to 2 days. If there are no fresh…

Morning Cheer

Bags of frozen mixed berries are widely available these days. The one I bought contained raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Since there is no added pectin, this is a soft spread. Made with a minimum of sugar, it is tart and…

Think Cool

While everyone is cursing the high temps and humidity, I’m as happy as a clam at high tide. I agree August days can be as hot as Hades, and the mere thought of cooking can certainly make one break out…

Cool Eats

Quick summer meals that go well with your favorite chilled, adult beverages

Summer Repast

Abundant, sweet tomatoes are ripe for picking and eating alone or in a meal

easy does it

High-flavor, low-effort recipes to ease the transition from spring into summer

Herbal Bouquet

Elevate sweet and savory dishes with fresh herbs

Crawfish Bread

The Marksville creation popularized by Jazz Fest

Eggs Sardou for A Lenten Brunch

In keeping house for many years with my husband Doug, there are three things I never do - cut grass, wash cars and make Hollandaise sauce. As the woman of the house (and we all know a woman’s work is…

Parade Route Jambalaya

Sometimes slow-cooked can be better

A Lent-Approved Valentine’s Day Menu

There will be leftovers of the soup and dessert, which can be served again at another meal. Valentine’s Day this year is the day after Mardi Gras, which is Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), declared by the Catholic…