My friend Sunshine and I made a date for her to serve as guest chef. Since we both hail from Louisiana, we love cooking and entertaining. Sunshine is a great cook and I love cooking with her. Our cooking sessions include stories and laughter.  In our conversations about family memories and meals, Sunshine mentioned one of her Grandmother’s favorites, Cabbage Dressing.

Is it stuffing or dressing?

Dressing as in cornbread or stuffing not salad dressing, clearly dressing is a very southern term. Have you heard of cabbage dressing? In my review of food,  I located a million cabbage dressings for coleslaw. After my research, I was ready for Sunshine to introduce me to her Grandmother’s cabbage dressing.

Sunshine’s Grandmother Iris B. Lemoine served Cabbage Dressing on her large southern antique table. You could always count on Iris’s table to include delicious food including calas. The Lemoine family home started in Cottonport Louisiana on the bayou. A southern home filled with love, antiques and a porch to host story-telling.

Iris’s family were German and migrated from Nova Scotia and settled in Louisiana. Iris married a Frenchmen, Theofield Lemoine and raised  the family in Cottonport. Sunshine speaks lovingly of Iris and Theofield captured in  memories which center around an idyllic childhood. Memories which include listening to grandparents speak in French so little ears would be protected.

Life in a small town

In Cottonport, life centered around the Catholic Church, small town events and life of the bayou. Iris shared her love and happiness with all that came into contact with her. Passing lessons of love on to her family including  manners and etiquette.

During December, Lemoine’s would host a Christmas on the Bayou. An Open House for friends, family and neighbors. Of course, tables of food, huge pot of gumbo and treats to tempt the palate. Surely, if I close my eyes, I can see the huge mimosa trees covered in moss bordering the bayou, shading the Open House.

Lush green grass filled with chairs and blankets for guests to relax and share a meal. In the background, nature, laughter and Christmas music infiltrating the southern day on the bayou.  Uniquely, if only I had a ‘back in time” button, I would press it to meet Iris B Lemoine and her Frenchmen Theofield. For certain, I would love our time together.

Family and friends called Iris “The Pink Lady”. Sunshine describes her Grandmother as a Grand Lady. Iris loved entertaining, cooking,  her family and everything pink.” Clearly Iris could share secrets of being a great host and Southern belle. I am dying to know how she introduced boots to her classmates at LSU .

After all, Iris B Lemoine’s Cabbage Dressing is an old southern rice dressing recipe. Certainly, not a recipe that I have been familiar with but I love it. Sunshine and I spent an afternoon in the kitchen  cooking during which I learned how to make Cabbage Dressing. Sunshine shared memories with me while we cooked cabbage dressing and reminisced about families.

In conclusion, whether you call it Iris’s cabbage dressing, cabbage stuffing or old southern rice dressing  this recipe will yield rave reviews from your guests. Serve as a new side dish on your holiday table and start your own tradition with family.

Alexa Shout out to Billie Holiday’s “I’ll be Seeing You”.

The post Old Southern Rice Dressing Recipe appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

My need for a quick appetizer plus craft beer runs the gambit and includes  having  a loved one  that may experience a bad case of “h-angry”? H-angry is a special kind of “I am so hungry that I am angry”. H-angry is something that I try to avoid at all costs. Grill-Man’s hypoglycemia kicks h-angry into overdrive. Let’s just say that it is not a pretty thing to watch.

First Quick  Appetizer plus craft beer now and later?

No matter the reason, it is good to have a meal trick up your sleeve. Pesto, Sausage, Zucchini, Cheese and Green Onion Pizza will do nicely. Because variations on this recipe are endless, it is easy to select your toppings that you may want.

Most of these ingredients, I always have on hand and could be changed based on pantry inventory. In this recipe I have chosen to use store-bought pie shell in lieu of pizza crust. Before you get your panties in an uproar, here’s why:

• pie crust is always on hand
• easy to use pie crust unrolls easily and allows for time savings
• it allows for a thinner crust which I prefer
• fewer calories per slice

If you’re a traditionalist and want to replace with pizza dough, please do so. The internet will yield lots of homemade crusts. This option will not be as quick unless you opt for the store-bought crust which requires a grocery store trip. Or plan in advance and have dough on hand or in the freezer which requires time to thaw.

Since, Pizza is food that most anyone will eat. This recipe will allow you to hide the zucchini. A sneaky way to introduce a veggie is to place the zucchini on first, then add cheese and other items on top. Mom  may have to get creative when introducing veggies to any meal.  The earlier you work in the vegetables  the better. This does not work for everyone. I am aware that some people just “do not like vegetables”. If that is the case, leave them off  or replace with another item.

Check Quick Appetizer, Plus Craft Beer from Fairhope Brewing Company

Enjoy this pizza recipe and it will pair well with beer. In Fairhope, we are lucky to have the first production craft brewery in Lower Alabama since prohibition. In order to make this happen, a ton of beer lovers near and far had to unite for a common goal to change Alabama law. For more information on this subject visit Free The Hops.

Due to the the hard work and constant beer drinking, Fairhope Brewing Company celebrated their Fourth Anniversary  this year.  The story behind the crafted beer is a story in itself. Visit the taproom soon and discover what makes FBC special.

Since Fairhope Brewing Company has a notable offering and distributes to Alabama, parts of Mississippi and Florida you’re in luck. If your around those parts of the world visiting our sandy beaches check ’em out. They are very clever with the naming of their beers and flavors.  Just to name a few:

Everyday Ale
S’wheat Home
Judge Roy Bean
I Drink Therefore I Amber
(take The) Causeway IPA
Along Came A Cider
Tarts and Crafts
Rescue Dog Red Ale
Coffee Stout

Shout out to Alexa for a song to pair with quick appetizer plus craft beer or pizza. Alexa delivered up some poetry about Cold Pizza and Warm beer. This was not what I had in mind so I resorted to you-tube. Never does it disappoint to give some type of entertainment. Check the version out on you-tube by Small Boys.

Now it’s time for the quick appetizer plus craft beer. I think a tall  frosty mug of I Drink Therefore I Amber. Nite Y’all!

The post Quick Appetizer Plus Craft Beer- Now! appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Glazed garlic salmon prepared as an entrée or appetizer is a treat . Any wild caught fish is delicious when served as fresh as possible. If you live on or near a coast, enjoy often the luxury of buying fresh caught fish. It is a superb and should not only be enjoyed in restaurants.

First of all, fish is very easy to prepare at home using simple spices and traditional cooking methods. Served raw as sashimi, pan-fried, baked, steamed, broiled or fried, fish is always delicious. Whether fish is served  on its own or in a supporting role as appetizer, your guests will enjoy.

In the event that your unsure how to prepare fish at home, just start. Cooking fish is easier than you think. Salmon or fish is a healthy addition to your diet.  Moreover, fish thaws out quickly from a solid frozen state. This will come in handy if you’re rushing home and want to prepare a fresh meal on a weeknight. Remember, a piece of fish, small salad and glass of nice white wine is a welcome meal any time.

Cooking Tips for Glazed Garlic Salmon

Thankfully fish cooks quickly but tastes poorly if overcooked. Cook  fish 10 minutes for each inch of thickness except when frying. Fish is ready when the color turns to opaque or has reached 140 to 145°F internal temperature. After all once you remove it from the oven or pan it will continue to cook for a bit.   Enjoy the treasures of the ocean and Glazed Garlic Salmon.

Shout to Alexa for Ocean by Led Zeppelin. Forever I have loved this song and band since I was a teenager. An exotic entry into the world of rock. Zeppelin represents good and bad all at the same time, but in a good way. I have been able to see Robert Plant twice in small venues and I attest that he knows how to wail the blues and rock it. If you’re a fan, see him while you may.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Glazed Garlic Salmon appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

I am always happy to return to my little slice of joy, my home. Home is, truly where the heart is. The kitchen is the heart of a home. In my kitchen, I also long for those exotic big city flavors.

Big city traffic, is something to endure. The non-stop pace in a large city is electric and exciting. After several days of the frenetic pace, I am missing our quiet hideaway. I love to travel and get-a-way to foreign destinations. I have been fortunate to travel throughout the US and witness the beauty of our land.

The excitement of trying new foods and touring through food markets is a delight. Shopping in grocery stores in foreign locals, is always a treat for me. Each city,  state, region, cultures and countries all over, offering their own spin on cuisine. The spices, fruits and vegetables are blended to offer an entirely different flavor combination.

While traveling in foreign food markets, it doesn’t take me long before I want to fill up a basket of the unique items and run to a kitchen to begin cooking. The endless supply of flavorful cheese and breads.  The variation in dried meats. The exquisite beauty of the fancy chocolatier. The eye-popping color of the bulk spices and sauces they create make my mouth water.

Using these ingredients to cook , is not an option if your staying in hotels. Imagine a knock at the door, upon opening,  a happy and crazy female carrying a basket loaded with food. Hello, It’s Mimi.  It might help you gain entrance, if your also bringing wine.

I wonder how many doors you would have to knock on before you could gain entrance and be allowed to cook in their kitchen. I haven’t had the nerve to actually put this into action, yet. It’s still in fantasy mode.

Spices are a food item that you may easily bring back from your travels. It is lightweight, economical and makes a great souvenir for friends that enjoy cooking.

Select a spice or sauce, and then start incorporating it into your recipes. Or choose a chef that you like and see if they offer an opportunity to use the spice in their recipes. Spices add flavor that may allow you to cut the items that may make our foods high in calories.

In this recipe, I added chipotle in adobo sauce. I am a big fan of this item. It will bring a flavor all its own to your dish. I love the flavor of it and have added to the following:

• Barbecue
• Chili
• Sauces

The Chipotle Sauce in an egg pie, was bound to happen. In this version, I chose not to add crème or cheese to cut calories and fat content.

Shout out to Alexa for Miles Davis for a music to greet the morning.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Smoky Egg Pie with Sausage and Onions Date: 10-22-16 appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

I am happy to say that I am finally on the way to recovery. It has taken more days than I care to think about, but I am almost well. The good news is that I managed to get plenty of rest last week.

Well, unless you count the coughing and hacking or the “Honey Get Your Gun” episode. Refer to my Peep Picayune if you missed that post. It may make you grin.

On a positive note, I lost a few of pounds. This of course allowed redemption for my husband  from the dog-house, finally.

After sick day one, of lying around, I started to get stir-crazy. I had to pop up occasionally and do something productive. A load of laundry. Read a book. Fold Clothes. Read a book. Take a shower and take a nap. Watch a bit of TV.

After day 2 or 3 rolls around, I have officially “had it”. I am not a good “sick person”. I am not really sure what that means, I just know that I am not a good “sick person”. My husband is, even worse at it. Surprised?

Eventually, I found  my way to the kitchen. After several days of drinking orange juice, eating soup and avocados, I was ready for something else. I needed a hearty meal.

I pulled out my trusty Dutch Oven and the Beef Roast.  I grabbed a few things and went to work.

Shout out to Alexa for music to keep me moving and make me well.  Alexa chose Aerosmith, Sweet Emotion.

Save

Save

Save

The post Braised Beef Roast Served on a Bed of Egg Noodles with Smoky Gravy appeared first on Dining With Mimi.