Cooking on Himalayan Salt Slabs: Mahi Mahi

Have you ever cooked on a slab of salt? Have you ever even heard of that? I haven’t; well, at least not until now.

As it turns out, Himalayan salt is a big deal. It is supposed to be the purest form of whole salt on the planet because it’s been protected deep within the Himalayan mountains for millions of years. And there is no shortage of companies marketing it. There are plates for serving fruit or sushi, cups for shooting tequila, bowls for tossing salads or ceviché, and slabs for cooking meat or veggies.

Link Up and Foodista Drink Blog of the Day!

I’m so excited to announce that my little blog is going to be the Featured Drink Blog of the Day on Foodista! It will be featured tomorrow, Tuesday 31 January–All Day! If you remember, my last Happy Hour Friday post was on Spicehubby’s concoction, the Pearl Martini. This is the cocktail that captured Foodista’s attention.

Perfect Waffles

Breakfast for dinner. Happens a lot at my house. Not every week, but it’s such an easy go-to solution when life gets in the way of planning and executing a successful meal plan. Usually, even if I have neglected to go grocery shopping, we have eggs on hand and bacon, if we’re lucky.

This time, not really having any other option, I pulled the eggs and bacon out of the fridge and then realized we had no bread. No problem. That just means waffles are in order!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

…or should they be called Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars? Meh… Sometimes I get things a little backwards But I’m not sure that really matters in this case because whatever you call these, they are De.Li.Cious! Heavenly. Decadent. Sinful. Rich. There are many adjectives that aptly describe these treats. I’ll leave it up to you to work out. I’m too busy stuffing my face.

Good Things…

Happy Friday, Dear Readers!

Having battled “the crud” for the past five days (cold/sinus infection/heart burn/acid reflux/indigestion), I’ve not been much into cooking…or doing anything, for that matter. It’s been such a dreary, frustrating week; but I’m happy to report that I have returned to the land of the living! I even felt well enough to attempt a simple but decadent treat yesterday in my kitchen. I will be sharing that with you shortly.

But for now I want to unveil a new project I’ve been working on. Since I couldn’t bear the sight or smell of food this week and have been pretty much quarantined at home, I decided to focus on a long-neglected home project: organizing my craft room. {Yikes!} It was pretty bad, I must say. But instead of becoming overwhelmed by the immensity of the task, I was inspired! Unfinished and forgotten projects have new life, mounds of supplies have been uncovered and categorized and a virtual craft room has been created!

Introducing my new blog: 1 Crafty Lane

{EEEEEEE!!!} I am so excited about my new pet project that I want to share it with YOU! There are Big things coming in the next few weeks. GOOD things I will be sharing my real life craft room transformation as well as participating in a few virtual parties. All will be revealed in time. And I want each and every one of you to join me. Share your ideas, your crafts, your projects, your inspirations. We will have fun together and learn a thing or two along the way. ;)

Happy Hour Friday: Pearl Martini

Happy Friday! It’s Happy Hour Time….well, almost

The Swizzle Stick is a cocktail bar in the Loews Hotel in New Orleans. We usually make a point to stop in for a drink each time we’re in NOLA. This is where we discovered St Germaine, a lovely elder flower liqueur that is wonderful mixed with champagne or a variety of other things. The Swizzle Stick’s specialty drink that lead to this discovery

Spicy Shrimp & Broccoli Soup

At January 13, 2012
By Spiceblogger
In MexiCajun Recipes, Recipes, Seafood, Soups
1

Cold nights call for hot soup. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Earlier this week the temperature was 78°. That’s right: seventy-eight degrees. Phew! Louisiana weather is nothing if not a daily surprise. Last night the low was 25°. That is a 50+ degree swing. Nothing new for us, though. I know not to get too excited about a sunny, warm day in January because the next is likely to be bitterly cold and gloomy. It’s just one of those things you learn to live with and you adjust accordingly. And honestly, I would rather deal with the surprises than with 3 or 4 months of constant cold and gloom; so….I’m not complaining! :)

Crawfish & Tasso Pasta

At January 11, 2012
By Spiceblogger
In MexiCajun Recipes, One Dish Meals, Pasta, Recipes, Seafood
12

I recently had this recipe published in a local home & garden magazine. A friend mentioned to me a few nights ago that she made it and was very pleased with the outcome. (I always love hearing feedback from anyone who actually tries my recipes, don’t you?!) :)

Anyway, our conversation got me thinking of this particular recipe and wondering if I had ever published it here. It’s been on my Facebook page for over a year; but funny enough, I had not posted it to my little blog! Silly me. I get so caught up in things that I forget what I’ve done and what I’ve only imagined I’ve done! LOL

Crawfish Chowder

This recipe has become a Christmas Eve tradition for us. It’s not the only time I make it, but it’s so delicious, warming and filling and yields enough to serve 8-10. It is also easily doubled.

I use pre-cooked, peeled crawfish tails that are found in the freezer section at the grocery. The trick to using these that most people neglect is preparing them before adding to whatever recipe they’re cooking. Always, always, ALWAYS rinse them well after thawing.

Satsuma and Tomatillo Chutney

Wow. Here we are in 2012. Where did the last year go? How did the holidays zip by so fast? Sometimes I feel like every day, week and passing month is nothing but a blur! Next month I will have been blogging for a year, and I look back at how much I have learned over the past 11 months.

I never imagined I would Ever start a blog. EVER. But once I started, the writing process was so cathartic and the interaction with other people from all over the world that have become friends has been so amazing and surprising that I was hooked from the beginning. The desire to improve my little blog and my photography and my cooking has kept me constantly moving forward, growing and learning. It has been Wonderful!