Cajun Mardi Gras

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

Courir de Mardi Gras... "Fat Tuesday Run"! Chasing chickens and making gumbo... mon cher we gonna pass a good time. 

The rural Mardi Gras celebration is based on the early begging rituals, very similar to Halloween. Led by Le Capitaine, the revelers approach homes to ask permission to enter their property where they ask for various ingredients to make a gumbo. This may also include the ritual of "chasing chickens"... one of the main ingredients in the gumbo. 

So in honor of the Cajun Mardi Gras we're putting on a pot of gumbo, stirring up a pitcher of Cajun lemonade and turning up some Zydeco. 

They got a chicken on the run... The Pots Are On!

The Plate... 

Gumbo Ya-Ya

First off you ain't gonna did nuttin' till you made you self a roux. After all the running and gathering the whole town will feast on gumbo... so you best be learning how to make you some. 

What you need...  

2 cups butter

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 red bell peppers / diced

2 green bell peppers / diced

2 yellow onions diced

2 stalks of celery, diced

5 quarts of chicken stock

2 tbsp Creole/cajun seasoning (Zatarain's or Tony Chachere)

1 tsp black pepper, red pepper, chili powder, and thyme 

1 tbsp chopped garlic

2 bay leaves

2 tbsp salt

couple shakes of Tabasco sauce 

1 pound andouille sausage / cut into 1/2 inch chunks

1 whole 4lb chicken, roasted and deboned / cut into small pieces

What you gonna did... 

1. First you make a roux. Melt the butter in a 12-quart stockpot. Whisk in the flour and cook until foaming. Cook, stirring often, until dark mahogany, about 1 hour.
2. Add the peppers, onion, and celery. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the chicken stock (make sure it’s hot), and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer. Stir in Creole Seasoning, black pepper, crushed red pepper, chili powder, thyme, chopped garlic, bay leaves, and kosher salt. Cook, skimming fat as necessary, an additional 45 minutes.
3. Add the andouille and chicken and cook for approximately 15 minutes. Taste, and adjust for seasoning.
4. Serve with some good French bread. 

The Playlist... 

Cajun Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras song, known as "La Danse de Mardi Gras" and "La Vieille Chanson de Mardi Gras", is a traditional tune sung by the participants, Dance at Mardi Gras! 

So we have put together some traditional and newer "Cajun" party tunes for you. Crank it up and Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! 

The "Playlist" runs on Spotify- Click on the link to listen to Cajun Mardi Gras

The Bar... 

Cajun Lemonade

What you need... 

2 cups light rum

1 12oz can of frozen lemonade

1 tbsp of hot sauce

1 liter club soda chilled

crushed ice

Get to drinkin'...

Stir the first 3 ingredients together.

Add the club soda.

Serve over crushed ice and garnish with lemon. 

Chickens On The Run!

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!

It's Not Easy Being Cheesy

Love Hurts!

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

Well it's that time of the year when love is in the air... or not!  By popular demand we're bringing back our celebration of Valentine's Day. We say rejoice in your love or if not laugh in Cupid's face!

This week we are running a special 2 for 1.  Yep, if you just don't buy into all this cheesy romance nonsense then we have just the playlist for you; cause everyone knows that "Love Hurts"!

On the other hand if you just can't wait for the romantic dinner and candles just skip on down to the "Cheese"! You can thank me later.

The pots are on...

The Plate... Cheesy Chicken

Grilled Chicken Stuffed With Goat Cheese and Green Chili Sauce

Ok, really easy dish that will impress your Sweetie.  Looks harder to make than it is and man it taste great.  Did I mention the goat cheese?  So, again you have the spice from the chili to set everything off.  Hey, makes you have a little more to drink.... couldn't hurt. 

Anyway, great dish, great presentation... enjoy. 

What you need... 

Chicken Breast - 

4 boneless chicken breast

4 oz goat cheese

1/4 cup Nicoise olives

* 1 red bell pepper, grilled and peeled

1 tblsp chopped thyme

1 tsp ground pepper & salt

4 tsp olive oil

12 wooden toothpicks, soaked in water

Green Chili Sauce - 

* 2 poblano chiles, grilled and peeled

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic

3 tblsp lime juice

2 tblsp lime zest

2 tsp honey

1/2 tsp salt and pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup cilantro

* Grill and peel peppers - grill peppers until blackened on all sides. Place in ziplock bag for about 5 minutes to let them sweat.  Take out and peel off outer skin and chop. 

What you do...

Chicken Breast - 

Preheat grill to medium-high. 

Pound out each breast until about 1/4 inch thick.  Mix together the goat chess, olives, red pepper and thyme. Season with salt and pepper.

Fill each breast with the cheese mixture and roll up securing with toothpicks. 

Brush with olive oil and put on the grill for 8-10 minutes.

Green Chili Sauce - 

In a blender, combine the poblanos, onion and lime juice and give it a whirl. 

With the blender running, slowly pour in the olive oil. 

Now add the cilantro and blend until smooth. 

Add the honey, salt and pepper.  

Take the chicken off the grill pour the green chili sauce over the top and garnish with Cilantro. 

The Playlists... 2 for 1

Love Hurts

Ok, first things first. No Valentine?... No problem! Phone a friend (misery loves company), and crank it up.  We all know "Love Hurts" anyway so let's party.  My all time favorite for this occasion is "Creep"; ("wish I was special, but I'm a creep)... a little sarcasm always helps.  And, hey it could be worse.  You could be in love like Joan and then end up hating yourself.  Stupid Cupid!

("The Playlist" runs on Spotify. Don't have Spotify?... Click here it's free )

It's Not Easy Being Cheesy

You know when Barry starts crying... "How deep is your love" you'll be right there with him in your best falsetto.  Please make sure everyone has left the building when you get into "Superstar"... Thank you.
So, here it is.  All the Cheese you need.  Make that mix tape, turn down the lights, and light the candles.  It's gonna be a long night.

("The Playlist" runs on Spotify. Don't have Spotify?... Click here it's free )

The Bar... 

For the Lovers

Raspberry Champagne 

What you need...

2 pints raspberries
1/3 cup sugar
1 lemon sliced
1 vanilla bean
Champagne

What you do...

Combine raspberries, vanilla bean and sugar in a double boiler (or just put a bowl over a pan of simmering water). 

Cook, stirring until the raspberries have released most of their juice (about 12 minutes).

Now... kind of a pain, but here we go. Strain through cheese cloth pressing gently with the back of a spoon.  Throw away the solids. Let cool then pour 1/4 cup of your newly made syrup into each glass and top off with sparkling water. 

For the Others... 

Hey man nice shot

Hey if you're gonna celebrate alone do it right.... "Tequila loves me even if you don't"!

Happy Valentine's Day!

OUCH!

Please... Day Drink Responsibly

 & 

Keep On Cookin'!

Super Bowl LI

Game Time!

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

David versus Goliath, North versus South... It's time for Super Sunday! And, it couldn't happen in a better place than the wild west. Wether you're cheering for the Falcons first big win or the Patriots repeat, it's bound to be a great game. 

We've gotcha covered for the big showdown with some "sweet heat" grilled wings, a "Dirty Bird" cocktail and some rocking' tunes to make you feel like you're on the gridiron. 

We may be a little bias and pulling for the southern boys, but hey... The Pots Are On!

The Plate... 

Honey/Chipotle Wings

Not your usual Buffalo Wings... these babies will light you up then cool you down in a sweet way. The key here is the baking powder. It's the secret ingredient to help get crispy grilled wings. Oh yeah! 

What you need... 

3-4  lbs chicken wings
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp ancho chili powder
1 tsp kosher salt

For the gaze:
3 chipotles in adobo sauce
1 tbsp of the adobo sauce
1/2 cup honey
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped

Get cookin'...

Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel and place in a large bowl. 

Sprinkle with baking powder, chili powder, and salt to coat. 

Arrange the wings in a single layer on a wire rack and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

Place all of the ingredients for the glaze in a blender and give it a buzz. 

Set your grill with a hot side and a cool side (all coals to one side) or indirect heat on a BGE.

Place the wings skin side up and cook until the skins are crisp and starting to brown (20 min).

In the last 10 min of cooking brush the wings with the glaze then flip and glaze again. 

Remove the wings from the grill and sprinkle with the cilantro. 

Game On!

The Playlist... 

Super Bowl LI

Let's get ready to rumble!!!

      The "Playlist" runs on Spotify- Click on the link to listen to Super Bowl LI

The Bar... 

The Dirty Bird

What you need... 

1 quart clamato juice

1 cup fresh lime juice

1.2 cup orange juice

4 tsp hot sauce

4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground ginger

6 dashes bitters

1 serrano chili sliced

30 oz beer

Get to drinkin'...

In a pitcher, combine all of the ingredients except the beer. 

Stir well.

Serve by rimming the glass with salt, fill with ice the fill halfway with the mix.

Top off with the beer.

Rise Up!

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!