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Spicy Cajun Shrimp
Everything I learned about the history of Cajun and Creole food, I learned from Paul Prudhomme, the Louisiana-born celebrity chef who popularized both types of Southern cuisine. I learned that Cajun food is the food of country folk who settled in the bayou lands of Southern Louisiana and kept largely to themselves. Creole food, on the other hand, is city food, specifically from New Orleans, and was greatly influenced by the many different cultures like French, Spanish, Italian, Haitian, French Canadian, Native American and African that helped to shape that city. My very favorite shrimp dish came from Prudhomme, and that made him, in my eyes, the King of Cajun cooking. This Spicy Cajun Shrimp is simply divine. I remember making it for my father, and his reaction was always the same. He would bow his head, clasp his hands in front of the bowl and just say, “Honey, this is liquid gold!” Don’t be put off by the amount of ingredients. I can only tell you that this dish is worth every bite. Perhaps the phrase that best describes Paul Prudhomme’s Spicy Cajun Shrimp has to be Ça c’est bon — That’s good! Enjoy a big bowl of Cajun comfort food this week!
Big Daddy Burger with Special Sauce
For Father’s Day, why not treat Dad to something special he can really sink his teeth into? I’m talking about the Big Daddy Burger with a very special sauce; a sauce that America loves. If you believe social media, the Chick-fil-A Original Dipping Sauce Is one of the most craveable condiments for burgers, bites and nuggets. In cooking school this week I had a class filled with Dad’s and their kids, creating special recipes for Dad’s big day. We wondered if we could re-create the famous Chick-fil-A dipping sauce for our chicken burgers. So we put our heads, creativity and ingredients together and started whisking away! Wow!! Winner, winner, chicken dinner and a delicious sauce for Dad’s Father’s Day burger and fries!