Family Recipes

Chuck’s birthday was last week, and I wanted to make it special somehow.  I decided to bake a dessert from his childhood—his mother Ann’s spiced carrot cake.  While carrot cake seems like it would be difficult to put together, this one is quite simple.  Gently–Read more

Every January I make a pot of black-eyed pea jambalaya to start the new year with good luck. So far in 2020 the peas haven’t warded off a pandemic, but they have helped me to look on the bright side of our situation. Despite being–Read more

My mother, known by her nickname Buttons, is a cookbook collector, recipe reader, and very talented cook. While her projects in the kitchen are simpler these days, the dishes she is known for are an important part of our family legacy. When I asked my–Read more

Each year when corn is in season, I know it’s time to make maque choux (pronounced mock shoo), a comforting Cajun dish that is as colorful as it is tasty.   This braised stew has long been served at South Louisiana tables, and every family makes–Read more

In New Orleans most restaurants feature Red Beans and Rice on Mondays.  Likewise, many South Louisiana homes have the scent of cooking red beans wafting through the kitchen at the beginning of the week.  This practice dates back to when Monday was the day that–Read more

Even though many miles and mountains lie between Colorado and our Louisiana birthplace, we love keeping the culture of the Cajun world alive—especially through food. When Mardi Gras rolls around, it’s time to think about the parades, shiny beads, and decadent foods that mark the–Read more