My family 1st moved to the North Shore above New Orleans when I was only 14, whereas I instantly fell in love with the local cuisine. I love fine food & soon learned I had the knack for creating it. Whenever I come across something I like, I'll try cooking it off & on until I figure out the right recipe for it. My bill of fare includes, Cajun, Italian, Chinese /Thai, Mexican & southern comfort food, all with a Creole influence. Though my bill of fare includes a wide ethnic variety, my menu is actually fairly small; but the dishes on it, are guaranteed to be amongst the best in their class that you'll find anywhere!

Saturday, November 2, 2024

No sugar added Banana Cream Pie

 Here's my No sugar added "low carb" Banana Cream Pie! The only sugar in this is the naturally occurring sugar in the ingredients.  This is a thick & creamy pie, that's sweet enough to satisfy the kids, with-out assaulting an adult's pallet!  I explain, & break-down all the carbs & sugars in my video!  This is one of the easiest, & fastest desserts you'll every make!




Ingrediants;                        Carbs    Sugars
1/2c Erythritol                        0            0
1 8oz brick Cream Cheese     2            1
1 pt Heavy whip Cream         4            1    
1 Walnut pie crust                  9            2
1 medium Banana                  7            1.5
1 tsp vanilla extract                0            0
______________________________________________
Totals/serving, 8 servings/pie= 22    5.5

Half the carbs & about 1/6th the sugar as most store bought cheese cake &/or creamed pies.

Direction:
Mash the banana until creamy, then with mixer, mix vanilla, softened cream cheese with banana until smooth & creamy & all lumps are gone.  Next, add erythritol, &  heavy cream into large bowl, & whip into stiff peaks, then softly fold into creamed banana cheese mixture...  fill/spoon into pie shell, & place into frig & let set for 2-3 hrs...  enjoy!

Friday, September 27, 2024

The Best, Healthiest way to cook Rice!

When cooked properly, between Rice, Pasta, Potatoes, & Bread,... Rice is the healthier starch to accompany a meal; Basmati-White Rice that is, not brown!  Basmati rice is the healthiest & most Aromatic of white rice, & gives off a beautiful sweet popcorn aroma while it's cooking!
The trick is to cook it properly, to what most Americans might fear is "under-cooked."  Which really isn't, most Americans take cooking rice for granted (if not using Instant rice, lol) & simply toss it in a pot & cook it until it's border-line mushy (way over-cooked!)  Over-cooking anything is like "Processed food" The more something is "Processed/cooked" the easier/quicker your body is able to digest it, which floods the body with fats & starches, faster than it can use it, so it starts storing it, wherever it can manage to put it; not to mention flooding your blood-stream with sugars! 

Instructions
Use 1 cup & 1½ tbs of Rice, for every 1½ cups of water!
(Simply double/triple, these measurements to reach desired amount!)
Start by measuring rice & add it to a bowl, then measure required water & add it to your pot.  Place the pot of water on stove over high heat (add a pinch of salt & tsp of butter "optional")  Cover & bring to a boil; Then dump the Rice in, & give it a quick stir to level amounts out. (Cover & turn heat as low as possible!)  We are going to cook/simmer the rice for a total of 13 mins... (Exactly!!) Use a Timer, DON'T Over-Cook it!!  Now, if you wish to reduce the Rice's stickiness, & make it even "Fluffier" (for that perfect bite) Then cook the rice on high for the 1st minute, & then give the rice a quick stir to break it up & loose from the bottom; then immediately Re-cover it & reduce heat as low as possible & simmer for the "remaining" time (11mins 45sec ±)
When the timer goes off after 13 mins total, remove it from the heat & turn off!  DO NOT REMOVER COVER; Allow rice to steep covered for 10-15 mins...  Now your perfect rice is ready, just fluff with fork & serve, Enjoy!


I'll post some relevant "Rice" Health values / nutritional Data with links (Below) for those interested!

Why do Chinese eat white rice instead of brown?
Have you even wondered why Asian countries have eaten white rice for thousands of years, not brown? Because brown rice is full of phytates and lectins, which bind to vitamins and minerals and prevent them from being absorbed. Phytates are anti-nutrients found in grains and legumes.


Quote

"Brown rice has a GI of about 50 and white rice has a GI of about 89, meaning that white rice increases blood sugar levels much faster than brown. Still, both are very high in carbs, which will cause your blood sugar levels to rise... You can also combine rice with foods like vinegar or oil, which can lower the GI. Furthermore, you can try other varieties of rice with lower GIs, such as:

    basmati
    red
    black
    wild

Brown rice contains antinutrients
Antinutrients are plant compounds that may reduce your body’s ability to absorb certain nutrients. Brown rice contains an antinutrient known as phytic acid, or phytate, that makes it more difficult to digest...  While phytic acid may offer some health benefits, it also reduces your body’s ability to absorb iron and zinc from food... Over the long term, eating phytic acid with most meals may contribute to mineral deficiencies... Brown rice tends to be higher in arsenic than white rice... Significant amounts have been identified in rice and rice-based products... Long-term consumption of arsenic may increase your risk of chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes."
(Healthline,com)



Thursday, September 26, 2024

Coconut Shrimp Curry

 Alrighty, here's my 1st Thai curry, which I've been working on & tweaking for little over a year now!  Whether you love curry's, or find them a little aggressive for your taste, you should give this one a try!!  I think you'll find it smooth & creamy, with that perfect lightly sweet & savory flavor with just a little heat like a Texas chili, a heat that you don't actually feel in your mouth, but rather only makes your scalp sweat a little, if anything!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cups Vidalia Onion (3/8" chop)
4 cups Celery (1/4" slice)
1 bundle Cilantro (1 loose cup/course chopped no stems)
1 medium Jalapeno (fine/mince chopped)
1 stick Butter
16oz Vanilla Yogurt
1 can Coconut milk (13.5oz)
5 cups water

Spices:
2.5 tbs curry powder
1 tbs garlic powder
1 tbs onion Powder
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp turmeric
1.5 tbs course salt

Prep time = 45 mins
Cook time = 45 mins
Total time = 1.5 hrs
Feeds 6 people
Requires 1 cup cooked Basmati rice/serving

(Watch my Video for the Best Healthiest way to cook Rice.)

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Sloppy Josés

 This is for those that remember Del Taco, who used to make a sloppy Joe style Taco Burger that was off the chart! Everyone will love this, adults & kids both alike!  I call them my Sloppy Josés



Ingredients:
2 lbs Ground Chuck
1 tsp Kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 packets McCormick's Cheesy Taco mix
1/3 c milk
1/3 c Ketchup
2 tbs packed brown sugar
1 c shredded Colby & Monterey jack cheese
1 small onion chopped (optional)
1 small bell pepper chopped (optional)

Instruction;

1) Using a large pan & a tbs of butter, caramelize the onion & bell pepper, then add the chuck, & sprinkle salt & pepper over meat, thoroughly mix/toss the mixture, then brown while breaking-down  any large clumps; remove from heat & then drain the fat!

2) Evenly sprinkle both packets of MC cheesy taco mix over the browned chuck, & thoroughly toss/mix together.

3) Over medium heat, add milk, ketchup & brown sugar; thoroughly mix together & bring to a nice simmer... 

4) Continue to simmer while constantly stirring until all the milk has been rendered out, then remove from heat, & sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top while still hot & thoroughly toss mixture until all cheese is completely mixed/melted & no longer visible; cheese helps bind mixture together.

5) Load a bun up with mixture & enjoy!







Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Sweet Bourbon Garlic Salmon

 Holy Tantalizing Taste-buds Batman!  If this one doesn't tickle your tongue, you might have covid?  But seriously, if you've experienced "Bourbon Chicken" at a Good Chinese restaurant, then you're familiar w/the flavors I've applied here in this recipe'...  Something just told me these flavors would rock a piece of Salmon,  & WoW,  boy did they!   Y'all have to try this one & let me know what you think!



Ingredients

1-2 Salmon Fillet/s
1/2 Shot Bourbon
1/2 c Dark Soy Sauce
Few Drops Sesame Oil
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar "Packed"
Creole seasoning/ Lightly dust Salmon
2 sm cloves Garlic/minced
2 Tbsp  Oil/EVOO
Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Touch a Love!


Hope Y'all enjoy!

Monday, March 15, 2021

Chicken Marsala

 This is a really good one for a special, personal quiet night for two!  A very sexy chicken dish, guaranteed to make the night special!  This recipe' is SO simple & basic, that the video shows/explains it all, no need to even note any seasoning amounts!


Ingredients:


1 cup Vidalia onion, chopped
3/4 tsp Garlic, minced
1 cup Chicken Stock
2 tbs Butter
1/2 cup White Zinfandel
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Grnd Sage
Flour for dusting chicken
Olive Oil


Note; 
1) Add a big pinch (1/3 tsp) of salt/pepper right after the wine.   I just remembered I'd tasted before plating & made the adjustment off camera so...
2) Portobello Mushrooms go Great in this dish!  I didn't use them because the person I was cooking it for didn't like mushrooms!   
3) Recipe' works with Rice, Pasta, or Mash Potatoes!

Now as far as the Asparagus goes, I dowse the spears w/Olive oil, then usually season them with the same "dry" stuff used for the protein/entre' so they pair better;

Sea Salt
Black Pepper
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Ground Sage

And though I'd cooked/broiled those in the video on a "Pizza Pizzazz" I now use a more precise technique using my crepe pan; over medium heat, sauté for 2 mins, flip & sauté another 2 mins, remove from pan immediately/plate...  This brings the spears to a perfect Al Dente, with a nice snap & delightfully moist,  dissolving crumbly chew & NO woody grains!

On a side note; this was the dish I'd Christened my new Stainless Steel "Noni" Pan with, thus my comment at the beginning...

Hope y'all enjoy!

Friday, March 12, 2021

Blackened Salmon with a Sweet Chili Glaze

I've won Salmon hater's over with this one!  They usually say "I didn't know Salmon could be made to taste like that! or... Now I like that, I'll eat it if they cook it like that!"  lol






Creole &/or Blacken Seasoning, is the same ingredients, amount varies slightly pending who's version...  This basic mix will be used in 80% of Cajun/Creole recipe's...  Simply combine the following dry ingredients;


Blackened/Creole Seasoning/mix


1/2 Cup course Kosher Salt
1/3 Cup smoked Paprika
1/3 Cup Granulated Garlic
1/4 Cup Onion Powder
1/4 Cup course Ground Black Pepper
2 Tbs White Pepper
1 Tbs Cayenne Pepper
2 Tbs Dried Oregano
2 Tbs Dried Thyme
1 Tbs Dried Basil

makes about 2 heaped cups of seasoning...

How to remove the skin...

Removing the skin is beyond simple, it's so easy it's silly to pay an average of $2/lb more for skinless...  Especially since whatever the technique it is that they use,  removes all the fat as well; so efficiently that you can't tell which side was the inside or skin-side...  There's a subtle thin layer of fat, that's slightly more than equal in thickness to the skin, that attaches it to the flesh, so how you remove it, determines how much fat gets tossed out with it...  Believe it or not, more than half the flavor is in the fat; it actually gives the final bite, almost like a bacon (or roasted pork fat) like quality!











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