Monday: Cajun

Back again, this time with news of our latest success. In light of the Saints miraculous SuperBowl win and in preparation for Fat Tuesday's quick approach we decided to celebrate Louisiana and Cajun cuisine tonight. Compared to previous weeks this was a rather complicated menu with several time sensitive components (especially the rice, which I am always over or under cooking). But after an hour of mincing, chopping, sautéing and baking Tessa and I turned out a 5 star dinner.

• Seasoned Baked White Fish (Orange Roughy) ★★★★★

After striking out with Cod in recent weeks today we tried a 'sister' fish with similar subtle flavors and firm flesh. I must admit to using store bought blackening seasoning but it was a cheat worth taking, the fish turned out perfectly seasoned and incredibly tender.

• Spiced Dirty Rice ★★★★

The rice was simple and complimented the fish and sauce well, it was not overpowering or bland. Instead of chicken gizzards we used soft chorizo sausage which was wonderful.

• Shrimp Cream Sauce ★★★★★

This was by far the biggest hit of the night. The sauce was ridiculously simple but so tangy and tasty, everyone was scooping up every morsel. The recipe was sort of an on the fly sort of thing inspired by a crawfish recipe I read last week in a magazine. Tessa did very well improvising and seasoning, I hope the notes we jotted down are accurate.

• Bread Pudding ★★★★

Although this was not Dustin's favorite desert he enjoyed it, Tessa and I on the other hand nearly burnt ourselves trying to eat it straight from the oven. It was creamy and soft without the bread being overly soggy. The recipe was a scaled down industrial version I have used at previous jobs and school. Tried and true, both at work and now at home.

• Buttered Brussel Sprouts ★★★

One of my favorite winter vegetables, this did not go over with Tessa at all. She who refused to eat them missed out on my first perfectly cooked Brussels Sprouts! They were tender yet still had some bite, salted and buttered they were very good. Perhaps too much butter this time... is there such a thing?

★★★★★ -Great ★★★★ -Good

★★★ -Satisfactory ★★ -Marginal ★-Poor

Well, I will come back and type the recipes up later. Right now Tessa and I are in the midst of a dumpling extravaganza for Chinese New Year. Look forward to pictures and recipes from valentines day as well as tonights endeavors. Xīn Nián Kuài Lè

Good Luck, Good Eats and God Bless,

Dustin and Kathryn

Recipes to be added.. eventually