An expatriate of New Orleans – and professional chef – who has lived in Los Angeles since her childhood, blogs about the journey from New Orleans to Los Angeles back to New Orleans, and points along the way.

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Something Old, Something New-Jarlsberg Stuffed Shrimp Cakes

Posted by on May 20, 2011, 7:04 pm in Food and Drink, Recipes-Savory | 3 comments

I’m a true New Orleanian when it comes to loving shrimp, and these Jarlsberg Stuffed Shrimp Cakes, served with a simple salad of mixed greens, make a very tasty lunch or supper.

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Summer Garden Parties- and a Recipe for Salmon Cakes

Posted by on May 20, 2011, 5:45 pm in Menus, Recipes-Savory, Seasonal Celebrations | 3 comments

These wonderful Fresh Salmon Cakes, created for an outdoor garden party, are great for brunch, but are versatile enough travel into lunch, and even an early dinner meal.

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Chicken Piccadillo Chiles Rellenos

Posted by on May 10, 2011, 2:48 pm in Food and Drink, Personal Reflection, Recipes-Savory | 4 comments

I will often take the time to make chiles rellenos con queso for Cinco de Mayo. This year, I took the opportunity to do something a bit different by stuffing my chiles with a chicken piccadillo, inspired by the wonderful Lindsay Naturals green olives.

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Mother’s Day Brunch and Shiitake Stuffed Baked French Toast

Posted by on May 9, 2011, 4:10 pm in Food and Drink, Recipes-Savory, Seasonal Celebrations | 7 comments

Most mothers would rather be treated to brunch at home (rather than at a restaurant), leisurely enjoying the company of their family, with a great Mimosa, maybe a Margarita, to accompany a buffet of tasty treats, featuring dishes such as this great Shiitake Stuffed Baked French Toast.

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In Praise of the California Avocado-and a Recipe for Chunky Guacamole

Posted by on May 3, 2011, 2:38 pm in Food and Drink, Personal Reflection, Recipes-Savory | 6 comments

Guacamole is a dish much beloved by So Cal dwellers who grew up eating Cal Mex food. It should never be made in a food processor, never whirred to a smooth paste- in fact, ideally it should be mashed in a bowl (or a molcajete to be really authentic) to a nice, slightly chunky consistency, and it should never be stretched with sour cream. The taste of the avocado itself should shine prominently.

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Fish Friday- Blackened Salmon with Caesar Salad

Posted by on Apr 8, 2011, 5:38 pm in Food and Drink, Recipes-Savory | 3 comments

Fish Friday- Blackened Salmon with Caesar Salad

Blackened Salmon with Caesar Salad is a perfect (and quick) LA to L.A. meal, with the wonderfully crisp and complex Rosenthal Surfrider 2009 Central Coast Chardonnay as an excellent accompaniment.

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Fish Friday- Fried Catfish with Gribiche

Posted by on Mar 25, 2011, 6:04 pm in Food and Drink, Recipes-Savory | 2 comments

Fried catfish is a much loved dish throughout the Mississippi Delta region. While the fish is often served with tartar sauce, Gribiche, a French cousin of tartar sauce, has permanently replaced tartar on my menus.

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Fish Friday- Crawfish Etoufée

Posted by on Mar 18, 2011, 5:59 pm in Food and Drink, Recipes-Savory | 2 comments

Crawfish wasn’t always a New Orleans Creole thing, but a Cajun country delicacy. You’ll find crawfish etoufée (and other crawfish dishes) all over New Orleans now, though.

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Fish Friday-Crawfish Mashed Potatoes

Posted by on Mar 12, 2011, 3:03 pm in Recipes-Savory, Travel | 1 comment

I’m joining Fish Fridays with my first recipe-these wonderful Crawfish Mashed Potatoes.

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Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, and a Recipe for Macaroni and Cheese

Posted by on Mar 9, 2011, 4:55 pm in Celebrations, Events, Food and Drink, Recipes-Savory, Travel | 0 comments

Ash Wednesday is the other side of Mardi Gras’ coin. Sharing a recipe for Macaroni and Cheese, a meatless dish that hardly seems like a sacrifice, to soothe the Ash Wednesday blues.

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