Mardi Gras Party Good Time

Louisiana’s shape on the map is the reason it is referred to as “the boot,” and what an appropriate observation seeing how we love to tap our toes and kick up our heels passing a Mardi Gras party good time!

Mardi Gras Mambo - An Original Silkscreen by George Rodrigue

Mardi Gras Mambo – An Original Silkscreen by George Rodrigue

Louisiana loves to throw a party, and what makes a good party is great food, drink, and conversations about great Mardi Gras food and drink.

Plutocrat Second LinePlutocrat Second Line

Mardi Gras party good time traditions slice and serve a Carnival staple, the infamous king cake, and people do have their favorites.

Dong-Phuong-Bakery-king-cake-sliced

Dong Phuong Bakery

Delicious and in high demand, cinnamon king cake from Dong Phuong Bakery is king cake love at first bite.

dong phuong king cake

As the window for shipment has closed, it is nothing for the king cake devoted to make the drive to New Orleans to pick up a cake or three (limit 3 per person).

king-cake-colors

If a king cake run to NOLA is not on your Mardi Gras radar, let me share with you this brioche & butter cream recipe for Soft and Moist Mardi Gras King Cake from Murmurs of Ricotta. Click on the link for the recipe.

brioche-butter-cream-soft-fluffy-king-cake-recipe

From parish to parish, Louisiana is truly a melting pot of unique customs, traditions, and cultures. Courir de Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday Run) celebrates rural traditions rooted in medieval France known as fête de la quémande, or feast of begging.

Cajun music and dancing sets the soundtrack to this festive fête of raucous revelry.

courir-de-mardi-gras-fiddles

Courir de Mardi Gras Fiddles

Costume clad participants gather together in the early morning hours of Mardi Gras Day in many rural Louisiana towns intent on keeping tradition alive (as well as the chickens and animals encountered along the bayous and fields).

Courier de Mardi Gras, Church Point, Louisiana, chicken chase,

Louisiana Cajun Mardi Gras Art Print

Masked and adorned revelers travel on horseback from house to house throughout the rural communities putting on quite the show playing traditional Cajun music, dancing, and frolicking in exchange for ingredients and spices for the community gumbo feast at run’s end.

beads-doubloons

Parade route positions are prime real estate, staked out and claimed for optimum viewing and catching coveted Mardi Gras throws, beads, and doubloons.

beignets at Cafe du Monde

Beignets at Café du Monde

It’s hard not to find yourself in a Mardi Gras party good time state of mind when you have a cup of café au lait in hand.

cafe au lait

Louisiana gumbo serves main dish goodness, and new to the menu is King Cake Monkey Bread from Southern Living with a twist on the traditional taste of home.

king-cake-monkey-bread

King Cake Monkey Bread

Ingredients

3 (17.5-oz.) cans Pillsbury cinnamon rolls grands

1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup granulate sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup evaporated milk

For Garnish: purple, yellow, green sanding sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Spray a tube pan with cooking spray.

Separate cinnamon rolls, saving icing to use later. Cut each cinnamon roll into four pieces. Place cinnamon roll pieces in tube pan.

Beat together cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, and milk. Mix until combined. Pour cream cheese mixture over cinnamon rolls.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. After baking, let pan cool 10 minutes.

Turn baked monkey bread out on plate and ice with cinnamon roll icing. Decorate with purple, yellow, and green sanding sugar.

-Southern Living Magazine

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Louisiana is kicking up its heels in Mardi Gras party good time style. Mardi Gras parades are rolling, the party atmosphere is intoxicating, and time-honored traditions and customs well represented.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Darleen-signature-love

 

Crown Home Decor Accents

Crown home decor accents are currently having quite a crowning moment.

Prevalent among the Spanish and French-influenced design styles peppered throughout Louisiana homes, this crown home decor accents post makes for the ideal companion feature celebrating the unique flavor that is New Orleans, our laissez les bons temps rouler Mardi Gras celerations, and welcoming a few thousand friends to the Super Bowl LIX party.

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Mardi Gras season is in full swing; evident through krewe balls and parades planned to roll, King Cake celebrations, and crown-embellished decor pieces taking center stage.

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Tara Shaw – Photography by Max Kim-Bee

Spaces and places in the Uptown home of Tara Shaw feature a mix and mingle of contemporary accents anchored by fine European antiques, including prominently placed wooden crown sculptures.

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Regardless if only one focal point piece or a significant quantity fills the space, introducing antiques into the overall design and decor style scheme establishes a foundation element teeming with character and charm.

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Soul of the Home: Designing with Antiques by Tara Shaw

Mixing and mingling contemporary pieces with antiques adds depth and warmth to the overall visual concept.

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large-antique-decorative-crown-Tara-Shaw

New Orleans interior designer and antiques dealer Tara Shaw’s home reads as an interior design and decorating love letter to the signature interiors befitting the European influence witnessed throughout the Crescent City.

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Aged French Empire Decorative Crown

Serene colors create a nuanced backdrop, one in which contemporary furnishings, unique antique pieces, and crown home decor strike a balance between elegant and comfortable sophistication.

crown-kitchen

Côté Maison – Photography by Nicolas Matheus

Gilded pleasures is the term that best defines my fancy for crown home decor sculptures and accessories bedecked in shades of gold.

gold-crown-accentAtlanta Homes & Lifestyles

Ciel de Lit Carved Wooden Crown 18th Century Gold Leaf & Green

Ciel de Lit Carved Wooden Crown 18th Century – Gold Leaf & Green

antique-french-bronze-crown-top-frame

Antique French Bronze Crown Top Frame Showing Louis XVI

vintage-italian-gilded-mirror-with-a-crown-on-top

Vintage Italian Gilded Mirror With a Crown on Top

1950s-detailed-gold-italian-carved-giltwood-mirror-with-a-kings-crown

1950s Detailed Gold Italian Carved Giltwood Mirror With a Kings Crown

Gilded (also called gilt) refers to the gold appearance or illusion achieved when covering a surface such as wood, metal, porcelain or stone with a thin layer of gold.

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Photo by Marek Studzinski 

Gold paint or gold leaf is traditionally applied by hand resulting in an overlay effect of gorgeous gilded goodness.

King-Gator-notes

Alexa Pulitzer

Alexa Pulitzer’s King Gator note cards feature Louisiana’s favorite swamp dweller wearing a gold crown in regal glory.

Ebanista-crown

Ebanista

As you might expect, I equate crown themed home decor pieces with the city of New Orleans.

 Heraldic Crowns & Coronets V

Heraldic Crowns & Coronets V

Modern Wood Framed Museum Art Print Titled - Heraldic Crowns and Coronets

Modern Wood Framed Museum Art Print Titled – Heraldic Crowns and Coronets

New Orleans Carnival Balls Book

Golden Crowns 6" High King and Queen Antique Bookends Set

Golden Crowns 6″ High King and Queen Antique Bookends Set

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Photo by Simone Dinoia

Placement is king, and this architectural crown fragment placed above an entry door serves as both a decorative pediment and a focal point.

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Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles – Photography by David Christensen

French and Spanish influence is displayed in the architecture, regional cuisine, and pageantry of the royal courts of the Mardi Gras krewes.

Chandelier Crown Gold Accents Beige Distressed Gray White Wood Carved

Chandelier Crown Gold Accents Beige Distressed Gray White Wood Carved

Although the ornate geometric pattern of the Niermann Weeks Mizner lantern is not expressed as that of a crown, a crown is the first impression it left upon me so I’m going with it.

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Liz Williams Interiors – Photography by Emily Followill

Pair of Gold Leaf Wall Sconces with Mercury Crystals

Pair of Gold Leaf Wall Sconces with Mercury Crystals

Grey-Crown-Upholstered-Wooden-Vanity-Stool-Wood-Stain

Grey Crown Upholstered Wooden Vanity Stool, Wood Stain

At first glance I find the chair back of this Louis XV Provincial style vanity stool to resemble the shape of a crown.

vintage-antique-louis-xv-french-provincial-style-vanity-stool

Louis XV French Provincial Style Yellow Cream Vanity Stool

When a vintage piece is priced right and the frame and form hit the mark, it can make sense to purchase the piece and have it reupholstered in updated fabric and trim to give new life and fresh style.

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Decorative interpretation can render a regal result.

Candlestick-Transitional-Distressed-Gray-Gold-Wood-Carved

Candleholder – Candlestick Transitional Distressed Gray Gold Wood Carved

Italian Round Solid Wood Dining Table

Italian Round Solid Wood Dining Table

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Lady Clementine's Culinary Court

Lady Clementine’s Culinary Court

Whimsy crowns the French influenced Louisiana kitchen in c’est si bon wonder.

Beautiful Palatial Bronze Chandelier in the Shape of a Crown

Beautiful Palatial Bronze Chandelier in the Shape of a Crown

Give new life to antique pieces by reinterpreting their function and form such as reimagining a fireplace cover as a behind the stove backsplash panel.

Antique Royal French Crown Cast Iron Fireplace Cover Historic Traditional

Antique Royal French Crown Cast Iron Fireplace Cover

19th-century-painted-french-grape-hotte-from-la-gironde-doisy-vedrines

19th Century Painted French Grape Hotte from La Gironde, Doisy-Védrines

Medium-Princely-Crown-Copper-Lidded-Canister---23_22---Brown-and-Silver

Princely Crown Copper Lidded Canister

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Small French Bronze Mortar and Pestle with Fleur De Lys and Crown, Circa 1700

Antique-Ornate-Decorative-Salad-Fork-Spoon-crown (1)

Antique Ornate 7″ Decorative Salad Fork Spoon w Lions & Crest from Italy

Spring into summer entertaining season is soon to be back in full swing, and this crown embellished plate beautifully accomplishes the style mission of serving grand and regal style.

French Antique Greyhound Dog Ironstone Plate

French Antique Greyhound Dog Ironstone Plate

Vintage Italian Demitasse Spoons, 11 in set

Vintage Italian Demitasse Spoons, 11 in Set

Antik'Etoffe, 6 Monogram Monogram Under Crown Towels-1

Antik’Etoffe, 6 Monogram Monogram Under Crown Towels

Crown Art Print

Crown Art Print

gold-crown-top-mirror

Gold Crowned Top Mirror

For the sake of transparency and truthfulness I’ll admit it- some, but not all, crown home decor accents can be downright tacky, and I keep that in mind when selecting pieces to source and share with you all.

 Kitschy gives way to whimsical, and this is where the logic of the idiom “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” applies.

Vintage small Queen Elizabeth 1953 Coronation brass Door Knocker- England

Vintage small Queen Elizabeth 1953 Coronation brass Door Knocker- England

Antique door knockers provide history in the detail and grand style in the appeal.

Vintage English Crest Cast Brass Door Knocker

Vintage English Crest Cast Brass Door Knocker

crown-skeleton-key-tassel

1963 Burwood Products Co. No. 267 Royal Crown

1963 Burwood Products Co. No. 267 Royal Crown Wall Hanging

As with all vintage lamps and chandeliers purchased at auction or antique shops, I strongly suggest having your lighting treasure rewired.

two-matching-8-inch-high-porcelain-lamps (1)Two Matching 8-Inch high Porcelain Lamps with Crown Crest Illustration

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From muted tones to gaudy gold gilt overload, crown home decor accessories reign decoratively supreme over the space they grace.

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Veranda

Wood decor lions, Onlay with lions, Cartouche Coat of arms

Onlay with Lions – Cartouche Coat of Arms

Garden accents in the style of a crown add curb appeal to spring into summer gardens and flowerbeds.

elegant-trellis-crown

Elegant Trellis Crown

Resin-Frog-with-Gold-Crown_2C-Patina-Finish

Resin Frog with Gold Crown, Patina Finish

Decorative Crown Trellis

Decorative Crown Trellis

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Antique Shops & Designers Magazine

Reimagined accents such as this antique wooden crown sculpture from a church in France become a noble and noted focal point.

Sunburst Crown Ceiling Flush Mount Light Fixture in Giltwood, Spanish Baroque

Sunburst Crown Ceiling Flush Mount Light Fixture in Giltwood, Spanish Baroque

Crown Wall Décor - Gold - 3R Studios

Bliss Studio Alexander Crown

Bliss Studio Alexander Crown

bed-crown-nursery-Pinterest (1) (1)

Crown-Religious-Figurine-gold-pastels

De Lis Religious & Spiritual Figurines & Sculptures

bed crown above painting

Pinterest

Elements of distinctive detail coupled with a storied provenance reign supreme among vintage treasures rich in elements of French, Spanish, Creole, and European influences.

French-Quarter-vintage-sign

Nice M. Nshuti

18th Century Painted Venetian Bed or Headboard

There’s bed crowns, and then there’s bed crowns.

18th Century Painted Venetian Bed or Headboard-1

18th Century Painted Venetian Bed or Headboard

Vintage Spanish Gilt Metal Crown Light FixtureVintage Spanish Gilt Metal Crown Light Fixture

Ornate Spanish 1950's Gilt Metal Crown Ceiling Fixture

Ornate Spanish 1950’s Gilt Metal Crown Ceiling Fixture

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Whetzel Bar Cart

Vintage decanters break the ice as “where did you get these?” conversation pieces.

Metal & Glass Crown Style Vintage Decanter with Wind Up Music

Metal & Glass Crown Style Vintage Decanter with Wind Up Music

4 Vintage Gold Crown Shield Lowball Frosted & Clear Glasses Barware

4 Vintage Gold Crown Shield Lowball Frosted & Clear Glasses Barware

Serve sips and tidbits along side crown inspired cocktail accessories.

Gold-Crown-Circular-Metal-Tray-Stand

Gold Crown Circular Metal Tray Stand

Crown-Cocktail-Picks

crown-beverage-napkin

Crown Cocktail Napkins

queen-pelican-beverage-napkins

Queen Pelican Cocktail Napkins

crown-glass-candle-holder

Crown shaped glass candle holders easily house cocktail garnishes and stirrers.

gold-crown-cake-topperThe Queen of Crowns

crown-cake-toppers

The Queen of Crowns

crown-topper-layer-cake

Topping off a sweet confection with a crown topper lends a sense of regal fun and visual grandeur to the occasion.

crown-Atelier-de-Campagne

Atelier de Campagne

Crown home decor accents achieve the purpose of impressively enhancing the spaces they furnish and adorn.

Darleen-signature-love

Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Louisiana chicken and sausage gumbo is what’s cooking in the Places In The Home kitchen today.

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“Cajun cuisine is a technique-driven cuisine, because
it’s a very humble style of cooking.
It’s about what can you do with humble ingredients
like onions, celery, bell peppers, oil, and flour.
How can you intensify flavors and create meals
that are satisfying and hearty and make you happy.”

—Frank Brigsten

roux-gumbo

Roux:

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1 cup vegetable oil

Directions

Heat oil in a black skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add flour in gradually, stirring well. Reduce heat to low.

Stir/whisk the mixture constantly until it reaches a rich brown color, approximately 30-40 minutes. You must stir/whisk constantly to prevent the roux from burning.

Black flakes indicate burned roux, and burned roux tastes horrible.  If you burn it, throw it out and start over.

Start over?

Yes. Start over.

It’s worth it.

options-graphic

karys-roux-jar

If making traditional roux from scratch is not for you Kary’s Roux in a jar has got your name written all over it.

Now, let’s gumbo!

gumbo-bowl-chopped-onions

Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo 

Ingredients

8 cups water

4 cups chicken broth

traditional roux; see recipe below (or 8 ounces of instant roux from jar)

6-8  chicken thighs
**Substitution: meat from cooked deli rotisserie chicken, shredded

1 pound andouille or smoked sausage, sliced

1  bag (12 ounce) frozen chopped onions

1 bag (12 ounce) frozen chopped bell peppers

½ cup chopped green onions

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped

2 bay leaves

2 Tablespoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon celery seed

4 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons fine black pepper or to taste

-OR-
in place of salt and pepper season with 1 Tablespoon Créole seasoning or to taste

1  cup white wine, optional

cooked rice for serving

Directions

Roux

Heat oil in a black skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add flour in gradually, stirring well. Reduce heat to low.

Stir/whisk the mixture constantly until it reaches a rich brown color, approximately 30-40 minutes. You must stir/whisk constantly to prevent the roux from burning.

Gumbo:

Slice smoked or andouille sausage into ½ inch pieces. Using a seasoned skillet for optimum taste results, cook the sliced sausage over medium-high heat until browned.

Transfer cooked smoked or andouille sausage to plate lined with paper towels, allowing excess grease to drain. Set aside.

sausage-chicken-onions

Place chicken in gumbo or stock pot, add water, and bring to a boil.  Add celery seed, 2 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. black pepper to season.

Stir and reduce heat to medium low; cook chicken until done. Transfer chicken from pot to large mixing bowl. Retain stock. Shred chicken breasts and return to pot.

Turn heat back to medium high.  Add roux. Stir until roux dissolves.

chopped-onion-bell-pepper Reduce heat to medium; add minced garlic, chopped onions, bell pepper, celery, bay leaves, parsley, chicken broth, remaining salt and black pepper (or Créole seasoning).

bay-leaves-gumbo

Creole-seasoning

Creole-Cajun Seasoning

1/3  cup paprika

3  tablespoons dried oregano

3  tablespoons ground black pepper

2  tablespoons dried basil

1  tablespoon dried thyme

2  tablespoons salt

1  tablespoons cayenne pepper

1  tablespoon granulated onion

4  teaspoons dried thyme

4  teaspoons granulated garlic

In a medium bowl combine paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, ground black pepper, dried basil, salt, cayenne pepper, granulated onion, dried thyme and granulated garlic.  Stir to combine.

Can be stored in an airtight container for up to three months.

boiling-gumbo

Carefully pour in white wine. Stir to blend and incorporate.

Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer uncovered for approximately 2 hours, allowing all flavors to marry. Remove bay leaves and skim any fat off top of gumbo.

Add chopped green onions and continue to simmer for additional 15 minutes.

Give gumbo a taste to see if you want to add more salt, pepper, garlic, Créole seasoning or chicken broth before serving.

Serving:

Cajun-Country-rice

Serve gumbo over cooked rice.

Zatarains Gumbo File

Top with a sprinkle of ground filé and hot sauce to taste if desired.

Louisiana chicken and sausage gumbo

Louisiana chicken and sausage gumbo is delicious on the day of prep and plate, and even more flavor filled filé fantastic the next day.

cest-si-bon-graphic

Mardi Gras Scenes from Home

Mardi Gras scenes from home capture the purple, gold and green goodness of this mid-winter fête Louisiana turns out for in grand laissez bon temps rouler fashion.

Mardi-Gras-decor-Louisiana

Celebratory jollification comes to call and we answer “throw me something, mister” with the accent mark placed over family and furry friends small town revelry to match our larger counterparts.

Mardi Gras Mambo - An Original Silkscreen by George Rodrigue

Mardi Gras Mambo – An Original Silkscreen by George Rodrigue

Parades O’plenty line streets and sidewalks, balls and beads fascinate and decorate, a neighborhood block party fais do-do invites new traditional to the party, and coiffed and costumed furry friends proudly parade in mutt strut second line regality.

Happy-Mardi-Gras-masked-dog

Homes adorned in colors of Carnival greet and treat revelers to a krewe of house floats exhibit.

Mardi-Gras-house-float-table-decoration

Crawfish boils give plenty of reasoning and seasoning for passing a good time.

decorative-crawfish-platter

crawfish boil supplies

boiled-Louisiana-crawfish

Mudbug in Blue by Dave the Builder garners Mardi Gras scenes from home attention.

crawfish on canvas print

the-tastes

Our version of a King Cake party looks something like a late afternoon tea party but with Community Coffee dark roast served black and strong.

King-Cake-2022 (1)

Considering how much we do love our King Cakes, I thought a spin on a classic a delicious deviation.

purple-green-gold-topped-fluff-pie

Fluff pies whip up super easy and delicious.

white-chocolate-Mardi- Gras-fluff-pie

Purple, gold and green sparkling sugars and a plastic King Cake plastic baby completes the decoration portion of this Mardi Gras dessert creation.

gold-purple-sugar

Giving thought to fluff flavor, the hands down choice was as obvious as the powdered sugar on your beignet.

whipped-topping-white-chocolate-instant-pudding

White chocolate it is!

mardi-gras-white-chocolate-fluff-pie

Mardi Gras White Chocolate Fluff Pie

Ingredients

1  9″ graham cracker crust

1  8 oz container whipped topping

1  3.5 oz box white chocolate instant pudding & pie filling

1-1½  cup cold milk

sparkling sugars in purple, gold and green

plastic King Cake baby

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, add white chocolate pudding mix and milk.  Whisk until pudding reaches thick consistency.  Gently fold in the whipped topping to incorporate.

Spread fluff mixture into the graham cracker crust; cover with plastic wrap.

Chill covered pie for at least 4 hours to set.

Before serving, decorate by dusting top of pie with purple, gold and green sparkling sugars.  Garnish with a plastic King Cake baby and enjoy!

king-cake-baby-plastic

cest-si-bon

 

Snow Storms Issues

Snow storms issues are not this homeowner’s idea of fun.

snow scene

Granted, we don’t see snow, sleet, and ice in the Deep South very often, and I’m beginning to be thankful we don’t.

snow on ground

When you get all three X 2 for several days in a row dread and worry sets in.

snow gate

It’s hard to see the beauty in winter’s calling card when power outages, water shortages, boil advisories, leaking roofs, and bursting pipes come with it.

Snow Storms Issues

Our crepe myrtles took a beating, and the Sago palm is currently a super funky shade of wheat brown.

ice-on-Crepe-Myrtles

Dripping water to prevent the pipes from bursting (they did) and then being under a water conservation and boil advisory for five days is a physically and mentally draining experience.

dripping faucets

Sago

Shrubs, bushes, and trees green and doing their seasonal bloom thing now are brown, weathered, and damaged.

snow storm damage

On the good news front, the water conservation and boil advisory lifted this morning.

Oh, and we were able to get the second dose of the Covid 19 vaccine that had to be postponed due to the storms.

Light at the end of a very dark and troubling tunnel.

Snow storms issues dominate my time this week, but I’ll be back with you next week discussing design and decorating this and that.

Have a lovely rest of the week, and I’ll talk to you soon.

Darleen-signature-custom

Storm Watching

The tropical storm slowly brewing in the gulf is becoming the Barry of bad tidings for the entire state of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region.

We’re no strangers to storm watching, and we know all too well the warnings and preparations that go with the territory must be heeded.

My initial intention for this blog post was to show you all the treasures I recently found shopping my favorite antiques and gift shop, but between storm watching and grocery store runs that ain’t happening.

New-Orleans-oyster-shell

Gulf coast themed accents remind me just how beautiful the area is and star in the summer at the coast style show currently decorating the dining room table and sideboard. 

We’ll have to see what Barry brings our way, and what, if any, damage we will be left to repair.

In the meantime, we’ve got enough bottled water, non-perishable foods, batteries, and tenacity to hang in there.

Dave is already sweating over the looming loss of air conditioning. We do like our air conditioning.

I feel like the lady in the home warranty commercial. We just got the new roof less than two years ago when the tornado ripped the old one to shreds.

This isn’t our first time at the storm watching rodeo, and we can hang on Louisiana strong for the entire eight minutes, hours, days- you get the idea.

love your style

Our Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Delicious anticipation over our favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes builds all year long, and inquiring minds and holiday appetites drive family and friends home to break bread and give thanks for these favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes.

home-sweet-home-holidays-blog-1

Our holiday dinner menu is influenced by traditional, new traditional, and regional Thanksgiving side dish recipes.

Family is well represented through the memorable dishes found on our Southern family dinner table.

antique-silver-salt-pepper-shakers

Here’s two of our favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes full of Louisiana flavor for the season.

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Creole Baked Oyster Dressing

Ingredients

2 (16-ounce) containers shucked oysters, drained, liquor reserved

6 tablespoons butter

1½ cups chopped onion

⅓ cup chopped green onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

2 garlic cloves, minced

12 ounces day-old French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

½ cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1½ teaspoons Creole seasoning

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.   Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Coarsely chop any large oysters.  Set aside.

In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat.  Remove 2 tablespoons butter and reserve.  Add onions, celery, and bell pepper; cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.  Add sage, parsley, thyme, and garlic; cook 1 minute. In a large bowl, combine onion mixture, bread, bread crumbs, lemon juice, Creole seasoning, salt, and pepper; stir until combined.  Add oysters and 1 cup of reserved oyster liquor; stir gently.  Spoon into prepared pan.  Drizzle with reserved 2 tablespoons melted butter.

Bake, lightly covered, 15 minutes. Uncover and bake until bread is lightly browned and oysters are curled around the edges, about 25 minutes more. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Louisiana Cookin’

asparagus-with-crawfish-hollandaise

Asparagus with Crawfish Hollandaise

Ingredients

2 pounds green asparagus, trimmed

1 tablespoon canola oil

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

4 large egg yolks

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

½ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ cup butter, melted

½ (16-ounce) package crawfish tails

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and add asparagus.  Top with canola oil, salt, and pepper, and brush evenly with basting brush. Bake until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, add water to a large saucepan, and bring to a simmer. In a stainless steel bowl, add egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, and cayenne.  Hold bowl over simmering water making sure bottom of bowl does not touch water, and whisk vigorously until volume of egg mixture doubles.  Slowly whisk in melted butter until sauce is thick and combined.  Remove from heat, and stir in crawfish.  Serve immediately over asparagus.

Louisiana Cookin’

sweet-potato-casserole-1

Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup milk

½ cup melted butter

Topping:

½ cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top.  Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, until hot and browned.  Serves 6 to 8.

Southern Food

tees-corn-pudding

Tee’s Corn Pudding

Ingredients

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

1 package (8-½ ounces) corn bread/muffin mix

½ cup 2% milk

1 can (15-¼ ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can (14-3/4 ounces) cream-style corn

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°.   In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in sour cream.  Gradually add muffin mix alternately with milk.  Fold in corn.

Pour into a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 45-50 minutes or until set and lightly browned.  Makes 8 servings.

Southern Living

favorite thanksgiving side dish recipes

Click on the links below for full recipe

Juniper-Marinated Mushrooms and Onions

Lemony Green Beans

Mashed Sweet Potato with Melted Leeks

Simply Scalloped Potatoes

buttermilk-cornbreadLook at that crispy edge perfection- the hallmark of Southern buttermilk cornbread.

Good cornbread is the base ingredient of great dressing.

I’ve enjoyed bread dressing, oyster dressing, and sausage dressing.

All are quite delicious in their own right, but our traditional holiday turkey dinner is not complete without Southern buttermilk cornbread dressing.

Here is my recipe for the cornbread:

Buttermilk Cornbread

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons oil

2 cups buttermilk self -rising white corn meal mix

1 cup self-rising flour

½ Tablespoon baking powder

2 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup milk

Directions

Set oven to 425 degrees. Preheat oven while preparing cornbread mix. Mix corn meal and flour into mixing bowl. Stir in milk and eggs and mix well. Batter should be a medium thick consistency. Thin by adding additional milk until desired consistency is reached.

Grease baking pan or oven safe skillet(preferably a black cast iron skillet) with 3 Tablespoons cooking oil. Bottom of pan or skillet should be coated well but not swimming in oil.  Place pan in oven to heat oil.  Once oil is heated, remove pan from oven.

Pour batter into greased pan. Return pan or skillet to oven. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Buttermilk Cornbread Dressing

Ingredients

crumbled cornbread

¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning, optional

*We are in a sage free zone here at Places In The Home.  If you want to add this seasoning/herb to the recipe, I suggest ¼ teaspoon sage.

1 medium bunch green onions, chopped

1 cup celery, finely chopped

3 eggs, beaten

4-6 cups chicken(canned is fine) or turkey broth, or more as preferred

Directions

One skillet of crumbled cornbread will make approximately 6 servings.  For dressing, crumble cooled cornbread by hand to a fine consistency with no lumps.  Place crumbled cornbread in large mixing bowl. Add poultry seasoning, green onions, celery, beaten eggs and broth (½ cup at the time).

Mix well.

You want the consistency of your dressing to be soupy.  Pour into lightly greased roasting pan or deep casserole dish.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour until top is lightly browned and knife inserted in center comes out clean.

slow-cooker-recipes-Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving recipes perfect for the slow-cooker from Taste of Home.

Cheese-Stuffed Sweet Onions

Potluck Macaroni and Cheese

Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast

Apple Betty with Almond Cream

 

signature-food-Darleen

Houses of The Historic Garden District

A stress-free afternoon drive viewing houses of the historic Garden District clears away the cobwebs and reminds me how much I love what I do.

houses of the historic Garden DistrictCorinthian Columns

“Architecture mirrors eternal harmony….music echoes it.”  

—Otto Van Simpon

Smooth jazz provides the background music while arches, and columns, and pillars (oh, my!) provide architectural eye candy.

Today’s self-guided tour along brick-lined streets and Louisiana bayous set a serene scene.

bungalow

My Louisiana Parade of Homes series was a labor of love, and today’s post featuring local residential properties near and dear to my architectural and historical home loving heart is no different.

cold-front-cloud

Blame the darkness in several of the images on a late afternoon in February cold front rolling across the area.

ES-garden-districtSpanish Colonial

Spanish-garden-district

A-line-roof

Colonial Revival.

Craftsman.

Bungalow.

arched-front-door-1

Italianate.

Palladian.

Georgian.

Just to name a few architectural styles of the houses of the historic Garden District.

magnolia-tree

Modern architectural elements stand out among the grounds of these stately homes and manicured gardens.

The blooms of spring will make a grand statement and give me yet another reason to visit the Garden District.

Queen-Anne

One of several antique horse head hitching posts in the neighborhood.

brick-single

Curb appeal allure is first found in the brick-lined street fronting the detailed brickwork of this single family stunner.

stack

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love your style!