Worcestershire sauce
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!
Turkey Meatloaf
It’s one of those family style favorites! Meatloaf never seems to go out of style. There are thousands of recipes for meatloaf using beef. But I’ve been looking for a turkey version of a classic meatloaf for a very long time and finally found one that will be my go-to from now on! Because turkey can be a bit dry, I was thrilled that this version is so juicy! That’s because of a few secret tips and techniques that make this meatloaf moist, flavorful and a perfect meal to make ahead, freeze and have for later! One of the secrets is, believe it or not, a couple of tablespoons of water! It’s how I make my meatballs, so I know it really helps keep the meatloaf juicy. The other technique is to make a paste-like mixture of milk, oats and breadcrumbs that gets added to the mixture. Finally, I decided to spice up the top with a combination of organic ketchup (for sweetness) and an Asian sweet and spicy sauce (for heat) called Gochujang, readily found in most grocery stores and Asian markets. If you love meatloaf and think that is has to be beef to be delicious, this recipe is going to change your thinking after one single scrumptious bite!
Watch my How To Video for Turkey Meatloaf here!
Turkey Meatloaf
Steak Salad
Steak Salad
If you love main dish salads, this is one to try! The tasty fixins’ like chopped crispy bacon, hard boiled eggs and candied pecans all add to this hearty plateful of goodness, but I think it’s the dressing that really makes the meal! The sweet and tangy mixture in this dressing is a family favorite and one that we’ve used on spinach salads for years! I’ve changed things up a bit for this bountiful meal. I’ve added spring mix to the spinach greens, and I’ve accompanied the greens with a beautifully pan-grilled Flat Iron steak, cooked medium rare and sliced into strips. If you prefer grilled chicken on the side, it will be just as delicious! Secret! There is one important tip in tossing this salad. Add the dressing at the very last minute, right before you’re ready to serve it up. Also, instead of pouring the dressing directly over the greens, spoon the dressing along the inside of the bowl and let the dressing ooze down the sides. Then, give it a gentle toss. This is to keep the greens from getting soggy. If you decide that you don’t want to make this salad a main dish, it makes a savory side salad for just about any entrée. Make up a double or even triple batch of this liquid gold dressing, refrigerate, and then you’ll have it on hand for the next couple of few weeks!
Watch my How To Video for Steak Salad with Dijon Dressing here!
