A taste of New Orleans

Hey folks I was thinking of my favor vacation places to go. I will admit I love the beach, but there is one place that seems to have my heart. New Orleans has some inner connection that draws me to this city. I miss the variety of smells and historical sites. Most people think New Orleans is just a party city, and I will admit there is something in the water. The scents in the air from jasmine, gardenia, roses, and magnolia. Not to mention all the variety of foods cooking in this wonderful city. The smell of beignets frying, and coffee in the morning. Then the other foods like jambalaya, gumbo, po'boy sandwiches, pulled pork, crawfish, bbq shrimp, chicken/ seafood etouffee it makes my mouth just water. From the cobble stone sidewalks, and the Voo Doo shops. This City just has a charm like nowhere else. Then you can't forget what gives the life line to New Orleans the mighty Mississippi River.

So here are a few recipes for y'all to try out from New Orleans:

Jambylia Recipe

1 tablespoon of cooking oil or bacon grease
1 cup of onions
1 cup of bell peppers ( mixture of green, red, and yellow)
1 cup celery
1/4 cup parsley (fresh)
2 tablespoon garlic crushed
3 cups chicken stock
3 tablespoons of salt or to taste
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
4 pounds of cooked chicken flaked
1 pound smoked sausage chopped up into slices
2 1/2 cups water
3 cups of instant long grain white rice

In a frying pan fry bacon grease, onions, sausage, peppers, garlic, and celery. Fry mixture till done, but do not over cook and brown sausage. In a large dutch oven pan pour sausage mixture into pan. Then add chicken stock, flaked chicken, water, and seasonings and bring to a boil. Then add your rice and parsley cover with lid. You want to lower your temp/heat to medium low. Cook till all liquid is gone and rice is soft. I hope you take the time to enjoy this dish.

The next taste of New Orleans is Pralines

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 stick of butter

In a pan melt butter then add sugar, water, lemon juice, and cream. Heat mixture to approximately 250 degrees and add nuts. Mixture show get thick then spread out on parchment paper.