Black-Eyed Peas, Creole Style

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Black Eyed Peas rice kale WMIngredients:

4 oz bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 oz ham, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 cup celery, chopped – include some of the delicious leaves
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno, deseeded, and minced
2 t Creole seasoning mix
1 t dried thyme
3/4 t dried oregano
1/2 t dried basil
2 bay leaves
1 pound black-eyed peas, sorted, rinsed, and soaked
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken stock
Water as needed

Garnish: sliced green onion Read More

Knitting and Purling a Few Friends

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Kidsilk Haze Green

Kidsilk Haze Green

One day my knitting instructor turned me lose on the world to knit and purl unsupervised. I am a knitter! Soon I realized that knitting all by myself was just not happening.

Sometimes both the practice yarn and my newly begun scarf would sit untouched for a week – or even longer if I had made a mistake and was too embarrassed to go back to the store, yet again asking for help.

After decoding my latest diversion from the pattern, a good friend smiled and told me that fixing knitting is just puzzling out where the yarn was supposed to go. It certainly was a puzzle for me. Read More

Broccolini and Carrot Alfredo Sauce

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Ingredients:carrot broccolini alfredo 2

2 cups (3/4 pound) fresh broccolini, sliced into 1 1/2 – 2 inch lengths
2 cups (3/4 pound) carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
3 T butter
2 shallots, chopped
6 medium garlic cloves, chopped
3 T flour
1/4 t white pepper
2 cups 2% milk
1 T chicken base
6-8 oz (2%) Plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 green onions, sliced

Optional: a little salt Read More

Creole and Cajun Seasoning Mixes

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Preservation Hall Jazz Band pose for a Creole Christmas

Preservation Hall Jazz Band pose for a Creole Christmas

What is the difference between Creole and Cajun?

If the recipe calls for tomatoes, it’s Creole.

Creole cooks lived in the city and had greater access to and money for out of season produce. The seasonings reflect that addition.

Cajun recipes almost always use the “Holy Trinity” of vegetable seasonings – sauteed onions, bell pepper, and celery.

Mix it up fresh or stir up enough seasoning to keep a little on hand. To make the larger amount, use the measurements indicated in parentheses. Then use 2 1/2 tablespoons or more of the mix for each recipe. Otherwise, use the smaller amount listed on the left hand side for one family sized recipe.

Both mixes are low salt. If you are used to more, add a little extra while cooking.

Instead of extra salt, how about seasoning the mixture with a little music from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band! Read More

Knitting Mindfully

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Yarn Bowl

The Daughter’s scarf and a pretty maple yarn cozy.

At the age of 60 I decided to learn to knit – a fun creative hobby wherein I can make fuzzy fabric designs for myself and others.

Excited with my new hobby plans, I took a couple of private lessons and learned that this firmly left handed person can, with a few style modifications, knit right handed from regular patterns.

Well, sort of.  Read More