Food
Food is supreme in Louisiana. The land is fertile so many crops grow well in this warm climate. The marsh and rivers are full of shrimp, oysters, duck, alligator, and fish. As with any region, the people who live along the Mississippi River make use of the wide variety of crops produced.
For a feast that will delight your taste buds, sample some of these authentic Louisiana recipes.
Rice Dressing
1 pound ground meat 1 tablespoon basil
3 cups cooked rice 1 tablespoon thyme
½ cup chopped onions pinch of cloves
½ cup chopped bell peppers pinch of paprika
¼ cup chopped parsley dash of Tabasco
¼ cup chopped celery
Brown ground meat in a little bacon drippings. Add onions, peppers, parsley and celery before meat is fully brown, and saute' with meat. Turn heat to low simmer, add seasonings and cooked rice. Turn quickly and lightly while adding beef broth to blend together and moisten.
Jambalaya
2 lbs. raw shrimp 1 rib celery, chopped
1 lb. chopped ham 1 stick butter
1 medium eggplant, peeled, ½ cup chopped green onion tops
boiled, drained, and mashed ½ cup chopped parsley
2 onions, chopped salt, pepper, and Tabasco to taste
1 bell pepper, chopped 3 cups cooked rice
Sauté chopped onions, pepper and celery until soft. Add eggplant, shrimp and ham. Simmer 15 minutes. Add rice, onion tops, parsley and seasonings. Mix well and keep warm until ready to serve. (Serves 8-10)
Sweet Potato Casserole
Boil 4 sweet potatoes until tender, peel and mash. Add ½ cup butter and mash into potatoes. Add one or two eggs and beat into potatoes. Add ½ cup hot milk, ½ cup brown sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla. If you wish, miniature marshmallows, and chopped pecans may be added. Sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees.