Poppy Tooker

Creole Oyster Bisque

Serves 8

1 qt. oysters and their juice
3 stalks finely chopped celery
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
3 stalks finely chopped celery
6 tablespoons flour
2 cups oyster liquor (or oyster rinse water)**
2 teaspoons thyme
2 bay leaves
3 medium Idaho potatoes, peeled, cubed and blanched
1 bunch thinly sliced green onions
2 cups heavy cream (or 1/2 & 1/2)
Salt, pepper, hot sauce to taste

Crawfish Etouffee (Serves 4)

1 lb. crawfish tails
1 Stick butter (8 oz)
1 Bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1 Clove garlic
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 Cup of water to rinse out crawfis tail bags
1 Teaspoon thyme
2 Bay leaves
1/4 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 turns of the peppermill
Scant 1/2 Teaspoon salt

Brandy Alexander

Serves 1

1.5 ounces brandy
1 ounce dark creme de cacao
2 ounces heavy cream
Freshly grated nutmeg

Combine all of the ingredients. Add ice and shake vigorously for about a minute.  Strain into a chilled, stemmed martini glass and top with a just a bit of freshly grated nutmeg.
 

Irish Channel Italian Cabbage (Serves 6 - 8)

1 large head of cabbage
1 lb bacon, diced
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 cups Italian stuffing (see recipe to follow)

Cut the cabbage from the core, then cut into a coarse, large dice (about 3 inch square size pieces.) Rinse cabbage thoroughly in a colander and put aside.

Oeufs a la Bechamel

Serves 4

6 hard boiled eggs
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon sugar
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon flat leaf Italian parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper

Jello Shots

Makes approximately 16-32 shots, depending on the size of your paper souffle cups.

Jello, 3 oz box (grape, lemon and lime for Mardi Gras colors, of course!)
Water
1 cup vodka
1/4 cup Everclear grain alcohol (for the brave of heart)
5 or 6 ice cubes
Paper souffle cups in 1 ounce size

Breakfast Rice and Eggs

1 Cup of Rice
2 Cups of Water or Stock
1/2 teaspoon salt (if desired)
1 tablespoon butter (if desired)
1 Egg for each cup of rice

Prepare rice:
1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Add the rice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of butter, stir once.
3. Cover the pot and return the water to a boil.
4. Immediately turn the stove down to simmer and cook about 15-20 minutes.

Rice is usually done when the water is completely absorbed.

Shrimp Creole
From Woodstoves to Microwaves

2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 large onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons green pepper, minced
1 tablespoon flour
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 to 2 cans water
Pinch of thyme
2 tablespoons parsley
2 pounds shrimp, cleaned
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Chocolate Truffles (Yields 30)

1/3 cup heavy cream
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup cocoa powder (or combination of other powdered ingredients) for dusting

Chinese Chicken Salad (Serves 6-8)

1 whole chicken or 6 chicken breasts

1 bunch thinly sliced green onions

1 large cucumber

1 cup sesame tahini paste (or peanut butter)

1/4 cup dark sesame oil (for dressing)

2 additional tablespoons dark sesame oil (to mix with cooked noodles)

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon Sriracha pepper sauce

2 tablespoons sugar

1 lb Chinese egg noodles or linguini

1/2 head shredded iceberg lettuce