Posts Tagged ‘Recipes’

Sweet Potato Crunch, another Holiday Hit

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Hi everyone, I promised I would be back with some more holiday recipe ideas.  This recipe I developed a few years back with the addition of our marinade line.  I try to keep some useful and versatile recipe ideas for all our products.  This time around I kept looking at our Praline Honey Ham Marinade and thinking.  Then, like a bolt of lightening striking me off my feet the obvious was right in front of me….and of course, I was like….duh, Cindy!  Sweet goodness with a little crunch is never a bad idea.

If your holiday table is not complete without a sweet potato recipe, give this a try.  Or better yet, it is so good in place of any typical potato side dish.  I personally love it with grilled chicken or even steak.  It is a fun alternative and again, for all those kitchen challenged, I try to cater to you!  Please enjoy and let me know what you guys think.

Sweet Potato Crunch

Take a look at this board, nothing intimidating about these ingredients!

Everyday ingredients ready to be turned into something special

Everyday ingredients ready to be turned into something special

Potato Mixture Ingredients:

3lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/2 stick butter

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

Crunch Topping Ingredients:

3 cups plain cereal flakes

1 cup chopped pecans

2 tsps. melted butter

1/2 cup Tony Chachere’s Praline Honey Ham Marinade

Preheat oven to 350. Boil sweet potatoes until just tender.  Drain and mash coarsely. In large bowl, mix all potato ingredients. Place in a casserole dish. In a separate bowl, mix all topping ingredients. Spread on top of potato mixture. Cover and bake 20 minutes. Uncover and broil to crisp the top being very careful not to burn.

You have to admit, your holiday or anyday table would be awesome with this yummy crunchy side dish.

Fresh out the oven and ready for your plate

Fresh out the oven and ready for your plate

Come back to my blog for a petite pois recipe adapted from one of my family favorites.  I look forward to talking to you guys real soon!

Cindy Adams-Ardoin

Food Scientist

Tony Chachere’s

Enjoy the Holidays with Tony’s by your side

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Can you believe it is time again for the holiday season? Quite frankly, I am a little overwhelmed thinking about the planning, scheduling, and shopping!  I know things will come together as they always seem to do in a miraculous way.  It goes without saying that every holiday in Louisiana is also accompanied by meals deep rooted in family traditions.  Every family has favorites and for God’s sake, if someone’s choice is absent from the table there will be feelings hurt.  I can tell you if I do not see Mom’s rice dressing on the stove, I start to have the shakes!!

Because I know people have their own family traditional dishes, I am going to offer up something a little different over the next month.  I want to share with you some new options for your table that are not complicated and do not come with high culinary expectations.  Which does not have to mean they are not yummy and worthy of your holiday table.  I feel everyone should have something to offer to the celebration.  So, if you are “challenged” in the cooking department these recipes just may help you get your holiday meals planned.  And if you know your way around the kitchen, enjoy them too and feel free to add your own twist to them.

I want to share with you a side dish that combines the sweetness of corn and satisfying pleasure of corn bread.  You cannot fail with this mix, dump and bake recipe.  Enjoy it with your family today and plan to make it again for your holiday gatherings.

Creamy, Cheesy Corn Bread

Ingredients for this easy bake side dish are:

Simple ingredients go into this corn bread

Simple ingredients go into this corn bread

1 (15.25 oz.) can whole sweet corn

1 (14.75 oz.) can cream style corn

1 cup sour cream

1/2 stick butter, melted

2 cups shredded cheese (any variety)

1/2 tablespoon Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning

3 eggs

1 (9.5 oz.) box Tony Chachere’s Hush Puppy Mix

Preheat oven to 375. In a large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients.  Pour into a 9 X13 pan.  Bake for about 25-30 minutes.  Serve warm.

Dump and Mix this creamy batter

Dump and Mix this creamy batter

Take a look at the final product:

Delicious does not have to difficult!

Delicious does not have to difficult!

What could be easier? And it is such a winner with old and young alike.  Come back to my blog for my sweet potato crunch recipe!

Cindy Adams-Ardoin

Food Scientist

Tony Chachere’s

A Yam-rific Season in Louisiana

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Since I relocated to the Acadiana area of Louisiana, we are coming upon one of my favorite times of the year…”Yam/Sweet Potato Season!”  And NO, I do not want to get into a discussion if it is a sweet potato or a yam. Whatever you grew up calling it is fine by me!  I have said it before, but I just love living in Louisiana.  On my way to the office, I can stop by a local farmer parked on the side of the road and pick out a beautiful bag of sweet potatoes for $3.00/small or $5.00/large.  Try to beat that with a stick…I dare you!!

Mr. Tony dancing with Miss Yambilee 1995, Shannon Dickson

Mr. Tony dancing with Miss Yambilee 1995, Shannon Dickson

Tony Chachere’s Creole Foods is located in Opelousas, LA.  We are in a small community internationally known for the Yambilee Festival held the last weekend in October.  Our founder, The “Ole Master” himself, Tony Chachere sat on the board of the very first Yambilee in 1946.

In honor of our Yambilee, I would like to share with one of our most requested recipes from my test kitchen.

Oven Fried Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Olive oil

Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning

Preheat your oven to 400F.  Peel and slice sweet potatoes into thin fries.  Toss with olive oil and seasoning.  Place on a well sprayed cookie sheet into a single layer.  Bake for 15 minutes and gently toss.  Bake another 10 minutes or until the edges of fries start to brown.  Serve as a treat or side dish to your favorite meal.

As good as it is beautiful!

As good as it is beautiful!

If you happen to be around our area of Louisiana, come on by to the Yambilee.

Cindy Adams-Ardoin

Food Scientist

Tony Chachere’s

The Center of Every Good Cajun Gathering is the Food!

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

This past weekend, I planned a surprise party (which was ruined by my
neighbor, but that is a story within itself) for my dear husband. As I
wanted to make this a very special occasion for him, I planned to have
all his favorite party foods. I must say I am blessed that my “office”
is a test kitchen, so all week I would prep a dish and store it away.
Saturday afternoon rolls around it is time to start putting out the
various goodies I had created. Here goes the list: sweet and spicy
sausage and meatballs, cheese dip with pepper jelly, layered shrimp dip,
cocktail shrimp with two dipping sauces, chicken salad sandwiches,
hummus and pita chips, chicken and sausage jambalaya, boudin, shrimp
pasta salad, and of course, cake!! All of this for 25 people!

Before the party, at the camp waiting for our guest

Before the party, at the camp waiting for our guest, yes, we had a NASCAR theme

It is at this point I look down and go, “What was I thinking!” Not only
did the spread take the space of the two food tables, but 2 more
locations in the house. This just goes to prove, all us Cajuns plan any
gathering around great food and lots of it. Food serves as the glue to our
social being. We hover around the table while we talk, pick at the
food, have a drink and catch up on our lives.

By the way, at the end of the night, almost all of food had been
consumed and all I had to do was clean dirty dishes.

Here is my recipe for my sweet and spicy party sausage and
meatballs….party on..

Ingredients for my Sweet and Spicy Party Sausage and Meatballs

All the ingredients needed to for a sweet-n-spicy party favorite

All the ingredients needed to for a sweet-n-spicy party favorite

1 (14 oz.) package Tony Chachere’s Jalapeno Smoked Sausage
1 lb. meatballs (homemade or store bought)
1 onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple
½ cup chicken stock
¾ cup Tony Chachere’s Honey Bacon BBQ Injectable Marinade

Combine all ingredients into your crockpot

Combine all ingredients into your crockpot

Cut Tony Chachere’s Jalapeno Smoked Sausage on a bias into chunks.
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours. Serve
warm for any party or gathering.

Sweet-n-Spicy Sausage and Meatballs ready to party!

Sweet-n-Spicy Sausage and Meatballs ready to party!

Cindy Adams-Ardoin

Food Scientist

Tony Chachere’s