Cookbook Thursday: 'Cook Like a New Orleanian'

We just got wind of Chef Toya Boudy’s cookbook, “Cook Like a New Orleanian.” Although we have yet to sample this cookbook, available in digital and print on Amazon, we wanted to let you all know of both the book and the program Boudy is offering on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans. Boudy began cooking at a young age and has appeared on her YouTube Channel "Cooking with Chef Toya," "Guy's Grocery Games," the "Food Network" and "Food Network Star." 

Here’s the book description:

Chef Toya creates 20 classic New Orleans recipes that embed the soul of the city in each dish.  Her signature dishes like Seafood Gumbo and Oyster Rockefeller Pasta celebrate the rich heritage of the region and its connection to the Gulf Coast.  Other recipes like Drunken Cherry Bread Pudding and Cajun Meat Pies stuffed with crawfish show her creative side, as she puts a unique twist on traditional cooking methods. This book also contains video tutorials to help you become more confident in the kitchen.

As an authority on Cajun and Creole dishes, she brings a fresh and delightful view on New Orleans cooking, one of the greatest food cities in the world. She exemplifies her native city of New Orleans, not just through her cuisine, but with her zest for life.

Now, for the event…Boudy will visit at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Rouses Culinary Innovation Center by Jenn-Air of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum of New Orleans. Samples are first come first served. The event is free with museum admission for non-SoFAB members. Admission is free for members throughout August.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Recipes for the New Year by Quail Ridge Press

Now that the holiday feast is behind us, it’s time to think about eating healthy and dropping those festive pounds we may have accumulated.

Or not. This week also marks the beginning of Carnival — Jan. 6 — and you know what that means.

So we’re compromising, offering two recipes we gleaned from Quail Ridge Press, the cookbook publisher in Mississippi known for their Best of the Best State Cookbook Series, cookbooks that highlight top recipes from every state in the country, although we might add that Louisiana had so many wonderful recipes they had to do two cookbooks!

Below are recipes for Coconut Curry Cauliflower, a healthy Indian dish packed with nutrients: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, phosphorus, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and K. And if you want to get into the Carnival spirit, there’s also a recipe for the colorful Mardi Gras salad.

Coconut Curry Cauliflower
From “Skinny Ms. Superfoods”

1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups cauliflower florets
1 cup lite coconut milk, canned
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Salt to taste
Directions: In a medium saucepan, saute garlic in oil over medium-low heat until tender, about 4 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients in the saucepan with garlic. Cover, and cook on medium-low heat until it begins to boil, then reduce heat, and simmer until cauliflower is tender, about 15 minutes. 

Mardi Gras Salad 
From “The Cookin’ Cajun Cooking School Cookbook,” included in “Best of the Best from Louisiana Cookbook II”  

1 head lettuce
1 cup sliced purple cabbage
1 cup sliced yellow bell pepperDirections: Wash and dry lettuce. Tear into pieces. Place in large salad bowl. Sprinkle cabbage and bell pepper on top. Pour one cup Creole Mustard Salad Dressing over salad. Toss and serve. Serves 12.

Creole Mustard Salad Dressing:

2 tablespoons Creole Mustard

2 tablespoons vinegar (cane, red wine, or rice)

3/4 cup oil

Directions: Blend mustard and vinegar. Slowly add oil; blend until smooth.  Pour over salad.

Cheré Dastugue Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She also writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire, “A Cajun Dream” and “The Letter.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.