Jambalaya and Bananas Foster
by Jes Mostek
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Even if you don't live in the bayou, you can eat like you live there. Celebrate Mardi Gras with Jambalaya and the ultimate New Orleans' treat: Bananas Foster. If you're really motivated, and you'd like to be authentic, incorporate this recipe for King Cake as well.
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Recipes:
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Becky's Easy Jambalaya
by Rebecca Randolph
serves: 8
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 I made up this recipe to please my husband, who is black and from the south because his mother's recipe was too hard and took too long. He tells me he likes mine better! |
| Ingredients: |
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1 lb |
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lousiana hot sausage |
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1 lb |
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medium shrimp |
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1 lb |
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boneless, skinless chicken thighs |
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1 whole |
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bell pepper |
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1 whole |
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onion |
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3 stalks |
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celery |
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1 whole |
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large tomato |
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1 cup |
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chicken broth |
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4 tbsp |
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cajun seasoning |
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4 cups |
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cold cooked white rice |
| Directions: |
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saute hot sausage and chicken in 1/2 cup of broth in large heavy pot until chicken is cooked through. Chop pepper, onion and celery and add to pot and continue sauteing. add rest of broth and cajun seasoning and stir well. Add diced tomato and cold cooked rice and toss well while cooking over medium heat until jambalaya is well blended and reddish in color.
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Flirtatious Bananas Foster
by Jes Mostek
serves: 4
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 The next time you REALLY want to impress someone, light their dessert on fire! Read on...
Bananas Foster: the quintessential N'Orleans dessert recipe. In 1951, when this recipe was invented, bananas were one of the major imports for the port city. The ownner of Brennan's, the restaurant where the dessert was invented, hoped to promote this imported fruit. The recipe was named after a friend and frequent customer.
OK, you're about to light alcohol on fire in your kitchen, so PLEASE careful: make sure you read the whole recipe, pull your hair back, stand back, and have a lid close at hand.
Now get ready to impress your dinner guests (or date)! |
| Ingredients: |
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1/4 c. |
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butter |
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1/2 c. |
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brown sugar |
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1/4 tsp. |
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cinnamon |
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2 T. |
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banana liquor |
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3 T. |
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dark rum |
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2 |
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bananas |
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vanilla ice cream |
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toasted sliced almonds (for garnish) |
| Directions: |
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-Peel and slice the bananas both lenth-wise and cross-wise. Scoop icecream into serving dishes and set aside (in the freezer, if you like).
-Place the butter in a flambé pan or skillet over low heat on the stove. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and whisk ingredients together.
-Cook, stirring constantly, until the butter melts and the three ingredients are well-combined.
-Stir in the banana liqueur. After the mixture reaches a boil, whisk for an additional minute and then place the bananas in the pan. Switch to a rubber scraper spatula and continue stirring the edges to prevent the mixture from burning but be careful to avoid cutting or mashing the bananas.
-When the banana sections soften and begin to brown, turn your burner off and pour the rum in a circular pattern around the the pan.
-Immediately light the rum by holding a (lit) long-handled lighter about a quarter of an inch from the surface of the sauce. You can also tip the pan so the alcohol is lit by the flame of the burner, but that way makes me nervous.
-When the flames subside, lift the bananas out of the pan and place four pieces over each portion of ice cream.
-Generously spoon warm sauce over the top of the ice cream, top with toasted sliced almonds, and serve immediately.
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King Cake
by Melanie Foster
serves: 12
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 THE cake of Mardi Gras. There is a baby, bean or coin hidden in this, and the recipient wins one year of good luck, and has to make the cake or host the party the following year. |
| Ingredients: |
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3/4 cup |
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warm milk |
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1 pkg |
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active dry yeast |
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6 tbsp |
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sugar |
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1/2 tsp |
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salt |
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1/2 tsp |
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ground mace |
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3/4 cup |
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butter, softened |
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4 |
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eggs |
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4 cups |
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flour |
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5 tbsp |
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sugar |
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1 1/2 tsp |
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cinnamon |
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2 cups |
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powdered sugar |
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1/2 tsp |
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vanilla extract |
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4 tbsp |
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milk, or less |
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3 tbsp |
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colored sugars, each- yellow, green and purple |
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1 |
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plastic baby, or large dried bean |
| Directions: |
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Pour the warm milk into a large bowl, or the bowl of an electic mixer. Sprinkle the yeast and (6 tbsp)sugar over the milk and stir until dissolved. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy. Add the salt, mace, butter and eggs. Add 3 cups of the flour and mix on medium speed 4 minutes. Add the remaining flour and beat on low until smooth or until the flour is incorporated, about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
In a small bowl, combine the 5 tbsp sugar with the cinnamon. Punch down the dough and dump it onto your work surface. Divide into 3 equal pieces and one at a time, roll each piece into a rectangle, approx. 24x6 inches. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the cinnamon mixture. Starting on a long side roll up, pinching the edge to seal. Place the 3 rolls side by side and loosely braid. Gently transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet and shape into an oval, pinch the ends to seal. Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place about 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake 25-30 minuntes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Insert the baby into the cake from the bottom. Make the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk until smooth. Spread on top of the cooled cake. Spoon the colored sugars over the glaze in wide bands, alternating purple, green and yellow.
**Warn your guests about the baby and supervise small kids while eating this cake!
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