Years ago at some restaurant in New Orleans, I honestly cannot remember where, I had a dessert of Tarte à la Bouillie . I ordered because I was intrigued by the name and that it was billed as a creole custard tart. I like to order anything that smacks of a local specialty. That one was fanicied up with fruit sauce and whipped cream and what not. It was lovely, … [Read more...] about Tarte à la Bouille (Cajun Custard Pie)
Holiday Cooking
Sardou Dip (Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Hollandiase)
The inspiration for this dip is a menu. I don’t remember where or when, but some menu I saw online – either Instagram or researching restaurants or something a friend sent me - had a Sardou dip. I didn’t eat at the restaurant, but the dip idea really appealed to me, so I started from scratch. Eggs Sardou is a New Orleans brunch classic in the benedict vein, an artichoke bottom … [Read more...] about Sardou Dip (Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Hollandiase)
Tomato Sablés
Some time ago, I went a little overboard in a gourmet food shop, buying up all sorts of little French and Italian goodies – the kind of things that tend to linger on a shelf waiting for the “right” time to use them. More often than not, they go bad before the “right” time comes. I bought a tiny little tube with tomato shortbread batons from France. Only after I left the store … [Read more...] about Tomato Sablés
Hot Honey Brown Butter Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are an absolute staple on the southern Thanksgiving table, and the general preference seems to be for very sweet sweet potatoes. I’ve never been a big fan of the marshmallow topped variety, but I do go for Candied Sweet Potatoes with Pecan Streusel or a casserole with cider, maple and orange. A few years ago, I veered over to the savory side (to … [Read more...] about Hot Honey Brown Butter Sweet Potatoes
Cranberry Chess Pie
I am a chess pie fanatic. It was a frequent dessert at my grandmother’s house and a fond childhood food memory for me. That sweet, soft filling with a slightly grainy texture from a tiny dose of cornmeal. I love it. And I have produced many iterations over the years, from Sweet Potato Buttermilk, to chocolate in a chocolate crust to salted honey. Some … [Read more...] about Cranberry Chess Pie
