From the Desk of Whitney Lee... — louisiana cooking RSS



Best Summer Recipes: Broiled Shrimp

Men in south Louisiana are often great cooks. My dad isn't one of them, but fortunately, mom's friends husband's are. This is a recipe from Mr. Jess Waguespack.  I've made this as long as I've been married. Gulf shrimp feels like a treat to most; the peel and eat way feels casual. For a more elegant approach, I peel these after they are broiled and serve over angel hair pasta.  Broiled Shrimp 6 dozen large shrimp 2 sticks butter, melted 2 cloves garlic 3 limes pulp of one lime 1/3 cup vermouth 1 tablespoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 8 dashes Tabasco pepper sauce 1/2 cup olive oil Arrange shrimp in one layer in a shallow pan. Mix all sauce ingredients...

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Best Summertime Recipes: Key Lime Pie

Mom gave me this recipe when I lived in Atlanta. She said she's had this recipe since high school. I lived in Buckhead with my cousin, Carmen, for 8 weeks the summer before my senior year in college. I had an internship at a corporate Psychology firm downtown, and it was fun playing house, trying new recipes with my cousin. Carmen thought my easy recipes were delicious! This was also the summer that I made broiled shrimp and 72 hours later, she frantically rushed me to the emergency room, clearing everyone in the way of her "Whit Whit" getting the help she required. Her way of calming me was, "Whit, this is bad! Can you breathe? You look like Hitch!...

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Best Summertime Recipes: Broccoli Salad

I should add the word "Easy" to the series title. "Best EASY Summertime Recipes". Because if it ain't easy, y'all know it's not gonna happen. Especially in the summer.  In my mind (or fantasy land), I would pick fresh tomatoes, grown from my garden, and throw together several fresh, light dishes with other organic ingredients that Reginald picked up at the local Farmer's Market. (Reginald is our Butler in fantasy land.)  I don't want to sound pretentious, but I think Reginald would wear a butler uniform of sorts.  Until I get my thoughts gathered on staff uniform style, where to find Reggie, (as we would call him when we are not in formal company), and how to even grow a...

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(Easy) Homemade King Cake

With baking, my motto is: "I'm not doing it if it's not easy." So rest assured, this is easy. And this is good.  I've been making this Holly Clegg King Cake recipe for years. When my December baby wanted to be strapped to me for the entire spring of 2015, I remember getting a few droplets of purple, green, and gold icing on his bald head as I completed the final step of this homemade King Cake.  I can report that he is 6 now, and he still loves this King Cake. Bon Apetit!    Makes 16 servings 2 (8-ounce) cans crescent rolls 4 ounces cream cheese 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons butter 1/3 cup light brown...

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Marinated Mushrooms

Momma always served marinated mushrooms in a dark green, smooth crystal bowl on Christmas Eve at our home in south Louisiana. Every year. No exceptions. It's become a staple for my parties now in Auburn, mainly because it's an easy, ahead of time recipe, and it's a impressive-looking appetizer...especially when you present it in a crystal dish like momma does.  I don't know where she got the recipe, but Mom says in our Family Favorites Cookbook, "I've been making these for years---since Dad was in residency. Everybody looks for them on Christmas Eve."    Marinated Mushrooms: 3 - 8oz. cans button mushrooms 1 cup red wine vinegar 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 packages Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix 4 green onions...

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