Louisiana Eats!

Roasted Okra

2 pounds okra
(preferably small pods - if using larger, cut into 1 inch lengths)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsalmic vinegar or water
Salt

Mock Turtle Soup (Serves 8)

1 1/2 pounds beef brisket, cubed
1 cup canola oil
1 cup flour
2 onions, chopped
1 - 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 pound ham, finely chopped
2 quarts water
3 bay leaves
6 whole cloves
1 teaspoon thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup sherry
3 hard boiled eggs, sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced

BBQ SHRIMP (Serves 6)

6 pounds large shrimp, head on
1 lbs. butter, melted
10 cloves garlic, peeled and cracked open
3 lemons
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoons paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon dry ginger
1 tsp celery seed
1 tablespoon cardomom

Poppy Tooker talks with Leah Chase about recovering after Katrina and the exciting news from Gary Nabhan about New Orleans being proposed to be the City of Gastronomy.

Pepper Vinegar

1 pint small, hot peppers of choice
1 pint of cider vinegar

Put the peppers in a clean, glass bottle. Fill with vinegar and screw the top on tightly. Store the pepper vinegar in a cool, dark place for at least a week before using.

Use as a condiment as desired.

***This pepper vinegar improves with age and can be renewed by periodically adding more vinegar to the bottle. It is not necessary to add more peppers.

SEAFOOD GUMBO

1/2 CUP OIL
1 CUP FLOUR
4 GUMBO CRABS
2 LBS. SHRIMP
1 ONION, CHOPPED
1 BELL PEPPER, CHOPPED
3 STALKS CELERY, CHOPPED
2 LBS. OKRA, SLICED 1/4"
OIL FOR FRYING OKRA
1 - 1 LB. CAN CRUSHED TOMATOES
1 GALLON SHRIMP STOCK
1 CLOVE GARLIC
2 T THYME
1 BAY LEAF
1 BUNCH GREEN ONIONS

Creole Cream Cheese (Yields approximately 8 pints)

1 gallon skim milk
1 cup buttermilk
Pinch of salt
6 - 8 drops liquid vegetable rennet (can be purchase in health food stores)

In a large stainless or glass bowl mix together all ingredients. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and leave out on kitchen counter at room temperature for 18 - 24 hours.

TROUT PECAN MEUNIERE (Serves 6)

6 trout fillet
1 cup all purpose flour
1 egg

1 cup milk
1 tablespoon hot sauce
2 sticks butter
Juice of 2 lemons
1 1/2 Tablespoons Lea & Perrin Worcestershire sauce
3 T fresh chopped parsley

Oysters Rockefeller (Serves 4)

1 lb. thawed, frozen spinach, squeezed dry
1 bunch green onions
1 celery heart
cup flat leaf parsley
2 sticks melted butter
2 tablespoons anchovy paste
Juice of 1 lemon
4 tablespoons Lea & Perrin Worcestershire sauce
4 oz. Herbsaint or Pernod
Tabasco to taste
1/2 cup Progresso seasoned breadcrumbs
1 quart shucked or 18 - 24 oysters on the half shell

Crepe Batter (Yields 18 - 24 crepes)

2 cup sifted all purpose flour
3 eggs
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon salt