Maque Choux distills the essence of summer into every bite. Admittedly, its first attraction may be the fun name. Pronounced mock shoe, it is a corruption of a French word or an Indian saying, or just straight up Acadian, depending on whom you ask. It is a traditional Cajun dish which occasionally makes it onto the menus of New Orleans-style restaurants, but … [Read more...] about Maque Choux (Cajun Stewed Corn and Tomatoes)
Holiday Cooking
Tequila Chili Almonds
I love a nutty little nibble with cocktails, and I have developed many versions over the years. These almonds are a riff on my Lemon Garlic Cashews, with a nod to the Bourbon Rosemary Pecans. Whip up a batch of Fresh Citrus Margaritas and get ready to celebrate! Look for raw, blanched almonds (with no brown skin) in the bulk bins or a Middle Eastern section or grocery. I … [Read more...] about Tequila Chili Almonds
Creamy Hominy Bake with Green Chiles and Cheese
My primary memory of hominy is a quick Sunday night dish my mom used to whip up with eggs and sausage, but I love hominy as a more unusual side for a good Mexican meal. I recently made this dish for a gathering of my parents’ friends, and when they realized it was hominy, I got a few looks. One friend told me she hadn’t had hominy since early childhood, when it was served in … [Read more...] about Creamy Hominy Bake with Green Chiles and Cheese
Citrus Ricotta Cookies
Tender, tangy and subtly sweet. These delicious little pillows are perfect for Spring. The ricotta makes the cookies tender and adds a little tang, and the gentle hint of citrus in these cakey cookies is enhanced by the sweet citrus glaze. With a little work, I think you could shape the dough into an egg shape for Easter, and can of course tint the glaze. Citrus Ricotta … [Read more...] about Citrus Ricotta Cookies
Glazed Canadian Bacon
A few years ago, I was in charge of preparing an Easter lunch for my family. We were a small group that year, and decided on classic Southern brunch food – grits, fruit, ham. But a whole ham would have been more than enough food for our group. We would have had leftovers for years. But most of the smaller hams on the market are pressed hams, and I am not into that. And I … [Read more...] about Glazed Canadian Bacon
