Soups

• Cheddar & Ale Soup

  My love affair with Abita continues with this creamy, warming soup (straight from the Abita cookbook). Despite our mild winter and persistent warm weather, we have had a few chilly rainy days.  Perfect soup weather.  And this recipe puts me in a St Paddy’s Day kinda mood.   I served it with Irish Soda Bread, but it ...
• Spicy Shrimp & Broccoli Soup

  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 ...
• 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 ...
• Savory Broccoli & Chicken Soup

  Oddly, this week has found me chaffeuring dental patients to and from tooth-extraction appointments!  {eeeeek!}   Spicehubby had to have a pesky problem tooth surgically removed today   and tomorrow a dear friend is having TWO wisdom teeth pulled!  I don’t mind being the caretaker, I’m just glad I’m not the patient!  :) Because ...
• The Last Gumbo of the Season

  I have a secret; well, a confession, really. I’m from Louisiana, 36 years old and have never made a roux. If you are at all familiar with Louisiana cuisine, this may surprise you. But the truth is, back in the day when I could’ve learned how to make a roux (because just about every dish ...