Somethin' to Chew On

I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, the capitol city in southeastern Louisiana (near New Orleans). Cooking is part of the trinity of the Southern Louisiana lifestyle - music, food, and politics (not necessarily in that order). And that trinity pretty well sums up this Southern boy's passions. So, in addition to sharing my music with you, I want to break some bread with you, too. 'Cause that's just what friends do. And that is certainly one of the greatest pleasures in life.

The important thing to remember about cooking is that it should be fun, creative, even spontaneous. Recipes are great for a little guidance or inspiration, but they should rarely, if ever, be followed literally or exactly. In fact, doing so can get you in some real culinary trouble. (There's not enough space here to tell you the whole story, but a few years ago my wife, while vigilantly following a recipe for a coffee cake, put in two cups of coffee -- grains! Hey, it didn't say "brewed coffee." Needless to say, the cake -- which I dutifully ate because it was prepared with love for my birthday -- was not only exceptionally dry, but gritty.) So, in the spirit of that lesson, I offer the following recipes from myself, my family, and my friends as tips or suggestions, not as hard rules.

Included with each recipe is generally a credit and/or a story to get your imagination flowing a little.

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo >>>
Chad's Infamous Salsa >>>
Nuggets of Love Fried Okra >>>