Red Chili Bean Stuffed Sweet Potato ~ Just in time for Mardi Gras ~ Meatless Monday

Getting a bit bored with eating regular baked potatoes?  Yeah, me too.  To get out of my spud rut,  I've started  baking/nuking sweet potatoes.  I really like their semi-sweet flavor and bright orange color.  They always make me smile when I split them open and see all that bright, fluffy neon-orange interior, AND they're super good for you, too!

Mike's Game Day Shrimp & Oyster Gumbo

My friend, Sharon, shared some food pictures on Facebook during Super Bowl weekend ~ there was some serious cooking going on over at her house!  Last time I saw some of her food photos, I posted her recipe for No-Bake Double Decker White Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cracker Cookies on the blog.  This time the photos that caught my eye were of her husband's ~ Shrimp and Oyster Gumbo.  Mike made a huge ~ Vat 'o' Gumbo for their Super Bowl party.  That's one party I would have loved to attend!  :)

Homemade Chicken & Dumplings ~ just like Grandma & Cracker Barrel make!

Homemade Chicken & Dumplings ~ Honestly one of the easiest and most satisfying homestyle meals I've ever made.  Why has it taken me so long to discover this classic recipe?  The traditional 'noodle-style' dumplings are so different from the biscuit dumplings I normally make.  Two versions of the same meal & both outstanding!

I found this amazing sounding recipe for making old fashioned ~ Homemade Chicken & Dumplings.  It said it was easy to make, quick to get to the dinner table & that it tastes like the Cracker Barrel version.  Ooooo, that got my attention.  I just love Cracker Barrel's Chicken & Dumplings!

I made it for our dinner & was truly impressed, as was my entire family.  Using leftover chicken makes this recipe so easy.  Not much to it ~ flour, broth, cooked chicken & a couple of spoonfuls of other on-hand pantry ingredients.  Even though the ingredient list is small, the flavor is BIG & so very comforting!  The recipe is simple to follow, quick to get to the dinner table & is just as good (if not better) than the one I've ordered countless times at my favorite 'country-style' restaurant.  We demolished the first batch I made and I've had requests to make it again ~ soon, very, very soon.  It was THAT good.

So, if you're looking for a meal that tastes like ~ something your grandma might make... that is comforting & makes you think of simpler times, when food wasn't fancy ~ just rustic, flavorful & perfect for large or small gatherings... just everyone sitting around the kitchen table, enjoying each others company... or when you'd like to order chicken & dumplings in your favorite 'country-style' restaurant, but want to make it cheaper at home, using leftover chicken & few other ingredients... or maybe even for a potluck ~ consider giving this recipe a try.  I think you'll be glad you did.  :)

P.S. ~ Since I'm posting this after Thanksgiving, I was thinking this might be a perfect way to use up some of the leftover turkey we all have hanging around the fridge.  Same meal / preparation, just a different type of bird...  I think I'll be making this again, just turning it into ~ Homemade Turkey & Dumplings ~ the next time around.  Maybe throw in a few frozen peas/carrots. Or maybe not.  Depends on my mood. : )

Easy Red Beans & Rice ~ a Mardi Gras Meatless Monday

Quick Red Beans & Rice with Vegetarian Seitan Sausage

Meatless Monday + Mardi Gras = Red Beans and Rice.  Who doesn't like a bit of Creole / Cajun spices to wake up their day/night?  I know I sure do.

Now, as  much as I like to cook from scratch, it isn't always possible.  After school commitments & other things often vie for my attention.  Cooking has to go on the back burner, so to speak. (heehee) I have found that on those days, using some canned items can come in really handy.  With a bit of doctoring up, they can taste almost as good as from scratch.  I'll take almost.  It's certainly better than takeout.

If you want a good meatless homemade version, check out this one from FatFree Vegan Kitchen, it is really good.  But ~ if you want a quicker version, because you just want to eat & time is ticking... try my easy version & get to eatin'.

Quick Red Beans & Rice

serves 2 ~ double recipe for 4

2 cups                   cooked rice

1 large can            red chili beans in chili sauce

1/4 cup                  onion, diced
1/4 cup                  celery diced
1/4 cup                  green bell pepper, diced
1 tbsp                    olive oil

2 links                   vegetarian sausage, sliced ~ store bought or homemade (optional)

-                             Cajun/Creole spice mix, to taste (optional)
-                             Louisiana Hot Pepper Sauce, to taste
-                             salt & pepper to taste



While your rice is cooking, saute the onion/celery/green pepper (know in Southern kitchens as the Holy Trinity) in olive oil until soft & onions are golden.

Once veggies are done, add the can of chili beans w/sauce & smash some of the beans with the back of a spoon to make it a bit creamy.  Add the sliced sausage to the pan if using.

Add some Cajun/Creole spice mix if you like your beans hot. If you are feeding kids - just let everyone sprinkle the spice on their own plate at the table.

Heat until beans & sausage are heated through. Add a little water, if needed, to thin it a bit. Ladle mixture over rice.

Serve with Louisiana Hot Pepper Sauce on the side.

Enjoy!

Banana Pudding ~ Homestyle Mardi Gras Dessert

Banana Pudding with Creamy Banana Rum Sauce

Since we are well into the Mardi Gras celebration, I thought it would be fun to make a few Southern style dishes.  Today I made my Banana Pudding with Creamy Banana Rum Sauce.  A quick dessert that we all love.

Now, you might not think of banana pudding & Mardi Gras as going together, but together they belong.  Banana pudding is a homestyle, Southern family favorite from way back.  I didn't have the time, nor the inclination, to make a pudding from scratch.  We just decided to have a little something after dinner & this quick dessert was just perfect.  I had a banana that was begging to be used & a box of Instant Banana Cream Pudding mix.  Bingo!  The warm Creamy Banana Rum Sauce gives the box pudding such a depth of flavor that you'll forget its humble beginnings. 

By the time the Creamy Banana Rum Sauce is done cooking, the pudding should be set up enough to serve.  This takes me about 15 minutes to make.   Serve up some Creole coffee & life is good.


                 ~~~  ~~~  Laissez les bon temps rouler!  ~~~ ~~~

Banana Pudding & Creamy Banana Rum Sauce

serves 2-4

~ for the pudding

1 small box Instant Banana Cream Pudding Mix
2 cups         milk

~ for the banana rum sauce

1 large         really ripe banana, sliced
1 tbsp          rum
2 tsp            butter
2 tsp            sugar

~ for the topping

-                  favorite crumbled cookies
-                  whipped cream

1)  Follow directions on pudding box & put pudding in fridge to set up when completed

2)  While the pudding is setting up, make the banana rum sauce

3)   Put banana, butter, rum & sugar in pan, cook over medium heat for approx. 10 minutes

4)   Once banana starts to break down & the sauce begins to  bubble merrily, it's ready

5)   Spoon pudding into dish & top with Banana Rum Sauce, crumbled cookies & whipped cream
  
6)   Serve with some New Orleans style coffee with chicory or my favorite ~ Creole Coffee

                                          Enjoy!