Ham Or Lamb Or Vega Easter Choices

 What should you serve at Easter dinner  next week? I'ts always a question when it comes to this holiday. You could cook a ham yet do you want a repeat of Christmas? Is lamb good? What are the vegan options. Don;t worry .A guide is here.

Ham is always a good choice for any  sit down dinner or buffets.It;s an easy prep and cook as well as being a crown pleaser.It's also fun to create a tasty glaze whether from ginger ale ale or pineapple juice and brown sugar. A large one, around ten to fifteen pounds can feed a whopping twenty to thirty people. It;s perfect for a large family gathering and there could even be leftovers for guests to take home. Sides with it are also simple Spring asparagus with butter and Parmesan on top ios always a good side as are baked beans and a simple potato salad. Keep in mind that these can be used for an Easter Monday picnic the next day.If you want a more traditional Easter main course then think lamb.The deep mineral rich flavor is perfect with such flavorings as lemon and oregano.Is lamb easy  to cook? Yes it's a nother easy roast like lamb.It only takes fifteen to twenty minutes per pound. You could have Greek sides such as stuffed grape leaves or a garlicky spinach dish as sides along as a fresh salad with feta.

What about the vegan options. You actually could serve ham - seitan ham which is a form of  wheat gluten (this si not good for anyone with celiac disease).It;s basically combining yeast with white beans along with other ingredients such  the binder a cup and a half of white wheat gluten.This is what sticks everything together and it forms a stick dough  - not unlike bread dough.It's glazed and cooked. You could save yourself the trouble and just buy a stuffed tofurkey loaf at your local grocery store.This is a  one hours and twenty minute roast in a  350 Farehneit degree oven. Another option is risotto. This is a wonderful change up from a meat dish and is satisfying. It can be made with asparagus for a Spring-y green flavor or it can be made with portobello mushrooms.If you;re pressed for time then  get Lidl's risotto mixes where all you add is the flavoring and water. Other ingredients can be added later. It;s a perfect Spring dinner especially when it;s served with a nice salad.

Don;t worry about next week. There are so many options for your Easter dinner. Go with meat. Go vegan.It;s up to you.

A Tasty Addition Homemade Croutons

 What's a good addition to a hot steamy soup or cool and creamy salad? Croutons! Yes you can buy them but homemade are so much better. They're buttery, zingy and flavorful and have that fun familiar crunch.

I thought they would be a good addition to Lidl's pea soup. The soup is 

a tough  can be a tough one to make hence the canned version.Yet it did need something homemade to elevate it. Homemade air fryer croutons would do the trick. It starts with three slices of sourdough bread.

This was Lidl's brand and I cut it into cubes. Slicing three slices at once does  the trick.However once sliced  it's then cubed.

Its then melting two heaping tablespoons of I Cna;t Believe It's Not Butter in the microwave for a minute(you can use any plant or dairy based butter,Just have enough to soak the bred cubes)

You can leave this plain but I like flavor so I added freshly ground pepper and garlic powder. You can add oregano flakes or onion powder too.

Let the bread soak two or three minutes, stick the cubes around in the bowl to absorb all the melted butter.

As for the cooking.air fry for seven minutes for extra crunch at 400 degrees Farenheit.

These are the crisped version

Then there's them and the soup.

They are so much better than the sore bought ones and easy to make. I plan on making them for my next salad too. It may be a vegan Caesar which scream for croutons. The garlic flavor added a nice extra oomph to them too.

Don't buy already made croutons. Homemade ones are tastiers and crisper. They're a snap to make and fun to add to soups and salads

One Potato Too Good

 One of the easiest Monday meals to make is air fryer sweet potatoes. These are a longish cook  but so worth it. The result is a filling , quick meal that's good for you and good tasting.

It starts with any kind of sweet potato  and an air fryer.

Sweet potatoes are like regular potatoes .They do take a lot  of time. I had one that was short and squat while the other looked like a typical tuber. Yet they both needed the same amount of time to cook.I set the temperature at 400 as was suggested in a AI overview. It should be half an hour but I added five extra minutes to get a crispy skin. Cook these at twenty minutes , then fifteen.,

Prep is easy>I brushed them all over with Lidl olive oil and then they were coated on sea salt and freshly ground pepper. This not only produced a crackly , crisp skin but also a tasty one too.The skin should be well coated with e salt and pepper mix.

The end result was this. Yes I put a huge blobs of I Can't Beleive I'ts Not Butter which took the crackliness away from the skin. Yet it was delicious and perfect for a quick dinner but also nutritious. They help with strengthening the immune system thanks to them being loaded with Vitamins A and C along with much needed potassium.They  also has manganese and copper in them as well.

One sweet potato is the perfect meal.It's light but heavy in good minerals. It's tasty and bright, a perfect light on a dark winter's night. Make them for dinner and enjoy their goodness!!!

Letting Gnocchi Shine

 Usually gnocchi are drenched in sauce. Pesto or tomato cover them, almost making their unique  flavor. Yet they can shine on their own with just veggies and mushrooms in a very light sauce.The dense flavor and testure works well with the fresh greenness the others impart.

I had wanted to make a different gnocchi recipe like this for a long time. I had two packs of them Lidl.

I have to admit they are delicious on their own but I still love their taste without any sauce drenching them.A few days before I sauteed sliced baby Bella's for a  risotto dish and I love the taste. If you are sauteing mushrooms, this  should be your trinity of ingredients for a good and flavorful saute.

Cover the pan 's bottom with olive oil (I use Lidl's" and a good tablespoon or two of Country Crock plant butter. I used a good pinch of garlic powder also from Lidl. Keep in mind  that this can be used for any saute, from tomatoes to broccoli along with mushrooms/

It only takes ten minutes to cook up , brown golden and delicious.  I wanted veggies with this and I had a package of microwavable baby carrots ,yellow and green beans from Lidl's Peak Harvest brand. 

This was a quick six minutes in the microwave and an easy blend with the baby Bellas.

This is a great gnocchi dish. All the ingredients complimented each other and the gnocchi's flavor was highlighted by the mushrooms, carrots and green and yellow beans. I will be making this again , possibly with the slightest , tiniest bit of pesto - just to see what it would taste like.

Gnocchi shouldn't be drenched in sauce. They should be allowed to shine and complement veggies. This dish is proof that they can be the highlight of a tecip

Back InThe Kitchen For Thanksgiving

 There are somethings that are inevitable. Cooking for Thanksgiving. Any home chef can;t escape it. As much as dining out is a temptation, sometimes that just cannot be done.

It will be this way with my kitchen this holiday. I thought it would be a day free of any cooking but unfortunately it won't be.Most restaurants and diners in my areas will be closed for Thanksgiving.I will be cooking. To be honest a vegan Thanksgiving will be easy if I make Gardein's turkey cutlets/ These are breaded plant based cutlets that come four to a package. Gravy comes with them and they're all an easy cook. I can air fry the cut lets  in a few minutes while cooking the gravy on the stovetop. I could also go the more elaborate route although it;s more work. Gardein and Tofurky also makes a stuffing filled loaf however it is elaborate to cook. It has to be tented and basically baked in a 425 degree Farenheit oven first for twenty minutes.The foil tent is removed and its' baked for another twenty minutes for a nice crusty finish.The end result is delicous and it also comes with it's own large packet of plant based gravy. Yet cleaning up afterwards cna be a pain, usually taking two days to thoroughly clean the pan.

Thankfully stuffing is the easiest.I love Lid's cornbread kind which is the closest in taste to scratch.This is an easy blend  of the mix stirred together with melted butter and water. It is perfect with any kind of gravy and I always get a jar of Lidl's turkey one. Again this also tastes like made from scratch gravy and it's good with the Gardein;s turkey cutlets giving them a richer flavor. Unlike other home chefs who go crazy over sides I may just serve one. Lidl is always my go to for sides. I lived their pureed squash which is an easy microwave cook. This is a pureed one,perfect with plant butter stirred in. I also like their Vendomo brand of Italian veggies that also have olive mixed in. This is a sauteed pan fried one that's also very delicious. As for desserts, it;s time to turn to Acme, which I was even going to do if the original plan went through. They have all sorts of freshly baked pies.I plan on getting one pumpkin and one pecan along with vegan whipped cream. Unfortunately all t hese create dirty and messy dishes that need to be cleaned and that means a holiday in front of the kitchen sink.

It's hard to escape Thanksgiving cooking and cleaning. There is a lot of work to create a great dinner. However it's worth it for a good, memorable meal.

A Family Classic Pumpkin Soup

 This is the season for pumpkin and soup. Why not combine them in  a comforting  dish that symbolizes what autumn is all about. Nothing beats a creamy, flavorful soup,

I made my bisnonna's or great grandmother's Piedmontese pumpkin soup. It was just a perfect dish fora cold, rainy day. It's a pretty easy cook. You do need two sixteen ounce cans of Libby's pumpkin puree(DO NOT get the one that's meant exclusively for pie filling.It's loaded with pumpkin pie spice)along with half a white onion, and veggie stock.

The onion is halved and then cut into little pieces. It's sauteed with a mi of olive oil and Country Crock plant butter.

Saute the onion pieces until they;re translucent (about five to ten minutes)

I like a rich, buttery flavor so I put two large tablespoons of Country Crock plant butter/

It was then adding the pumpkin and then briskly stirring it into the onions. This needs to be thinned out.I used two cups of Lidl's Veggie stock (Which is excellent and I'll be using it in other  homemade soups too)

For creaminess I added a quarter of a cup of almond milk(whole cream is usually added in the nin vegan version) This gave the soup a lovely light caramel color.

Pumpkin can be bland tasting hence the reason for highly spicing it. I added two or three dashes of salt and freshly ground pepper along with a sprinkle of garlic powder.

Rice is also important in Piedmontese pumpkin soup. I used Lidl's instant rice which only takes two minutes to cook.

This was the most amazing soup. It was creamy and rich in flavor. The onion and pumpkin were the perfect marriage together ,creating a smooth texture with some crunch to it.

It's fall.It;s pumpkin season. Make this delicious soup to celebrate the two . It's a wonderful way to welcome in  a chilly season with a hot bowl of goodness.

The Hunt For Plant Based Meats

 Any vegan will tell you - the IMpossible burger is exquisite. A vegan will also tell you it's becoming harder and harder to find. It seems grocery stores are not carrying any of the plant based meats.anymore. They're becoming harder to find than a -  plant based unicorn.

It's a phenomena of sorts that I've been noticing for a while. It started  - for me - in my favorite Lidl. They were selling Impossible chicken nuggets and dino nuggets for a the longest time. It was great to pick up a package and have t for two meals during the week. However like some of their items (such as the Duc du Couer potato and vegetable gratins) Lidl stopped carrying them. The alternative was my local Acme. They're three times the size of Lidl and there was bound to be something there - nuggets burgers  - bacon. Nothing. The pickings were so slim. THey do have a vegan deli section but even that's limited to veggie hot dogs, and cold cuts. Luckily and thankfully Wal-Mart has come to the rescue. They sell all kinds of Impossible Plant based meats and fish . Gardein is also there offering such plant based main courses as sweet and sour chicken and nd battered cod fillets. I stocked up on IMpossible Burgers and Nuggets. and , Beyond Steak Tips. All are going to be used in various dishes for the next week or more.

The question is why have the other stores stopped selling these plant based meat?Why is Wal=Mart  close to being the only one? I did read that Wal-Mart  was catering to the younger and hipper vegetarian crowd, hence the wide variety of  products. They want to expand their customer base and this was one way of doing such.Is it working? Most likely. A shopper enters Wal-Mart with one product on his or her mind and walks out with several. It's also a great way of introducing first time visitors to take a look at the store's other products  like computers, appliances or clothes to name a few . Trader Joes' does carry some plant based meats and a few creations of their own.  Target and Shop Rite also has a selection but I don't think they're as extensive as they used to be. It could be the stores themselves. It's much more cost effective to carry the real thing  such as twelve dollar real  burgers  and whole chickens for fifteen dollars each. Stores will always cater to the carnivores. Yet they're losing out on catering to other important sectors , the vegans and vegetarians.

What's to be done of vegan and vegetarians can;t get their plant based meats. Switch to Wal-Mart? Write to the bigwigs at local groceries. Just get that vegan main course for those who need it.

Pecan Rice A Fun Side

 Add any kind of nut to a side and it amps up the whole meal. This is true with pecan rice. It';s a tasty mix of this earthy nut and any kind of rice. Serve with with any main meal

I received he recipes in my email and it stood out. what a great side., especially to the portabello mushrooms I had as a main course tonight. It's just toasting a bag of pecans ( I bought the bag at Lidl which has an excellent of nuts for cooking and baking)

 

It';s a low roast at 300 degrees Farenheit for five minutes.I lightly salted them to bring out more of their flavor. It was then tossing them in with a mix of LIdl's garden vegetable  with pepper and plain short grain rice packs

I gave the mix a littlemore zing and moisture with the addition of Lidl's garlic powder and their olive oil.

Use the garlic powder sparingly and only use about a tablespoon or two of olive oil.

After stirring and four minutes in the microwave the dish was ready.

This was very tasty and I know i'll make it again. There are other recipes that have the rice cooked with sauteed onions and then the pecans This is something I may try in the fall with  plant based chicken. I like the idea of adding the pecans to write for a tasty side

Pecans and rice are a wonderful way to amp upa meal. Try it with any main course for a delicious meal.It adds   flavor and crunch.,

LIdl Comes To The Cold Rescue

 What to do in a heat wave? Head to your nearest Lid!! Yes the air conditioning is bliss  but there's another reason   they have the best ices and ice creams. There's so much to choose from, whether's it's ice pops or a cone.Best of all they're so delicious.

I am a huge fan of anything LIdl and ices. Of course I have their various  Gelatelli ice pops. Their fruit pops are the best

The mango pops have chunks of mango in them and they're a refreshing fruity break from these blistering days. The watermelon bars are half the size but still frosty and tasty. I love these.They have the same taste as watermelon bubblegum! So delicious.

This is another favorite. Blueberry and pomegranate are surprisingly good together and it's a different take on the classic Popsicle. There;s not many blueberry  or even pomegranate ices out there. This is unusual and not that sweet. Of course Lidl also has yummy ice creams from their Bon Gelati line of gelato in tubs. its' so creamy , reminiscent of fresh made ice cream from a creamery, Their sherbet is also on my radar along with their tubs of ice cream. I have cones and Lidl's version of the hard shell chocolate covering. It;s time to make my own treats instead of heading out in the heat for them.

It's an oven out there. Head to Lidl for tasty sweet and frozen treats. They'll cool you off in no time.

Gardein's Ultimate Burger Big and JUicy

 This is burger season. Everyone loves a juicy, patty dripping with juices. Unfortunately vegans and vegetarians don;t get this tasty experience - until now.Gardein has the Ultimate Plant Based Burger that's thick  juicy and tender.It's the perfect summer burger.

These burgers are really thick, weigning in at a whopping two and a quarter pounds. 

They took about fourteen minutes in the air fryer at 370 degrees Farenheit. They were flipped halfway through. The result was amazing ,especially on Lidl's brioche buns

This was a big ,tasty bite similar to what you;d get in restaurants. It was sheer perfection in the air fryer.It was juicy and  beefy tasting It will be wonderful on the grill.It doesn't go with it but I took leftover mashed potatoes mixed with Lidl's spinach and created a tasty if unusual side dish colcannon

It actually worked with the burgers. (I was going to air fry  Lidl's crinkle fries for the ultimate fast food at home experience but I had so many left over  mashed potatoes). Still the burgers go well with any side ,from salads to just sliced tomatoes.

Gardein's Ultimate Burgers are the perfect burger experience. Grill or air fry them to enjoy their juiciness .every bite is a treat.

Budget Easter

 This Easter may be a bit tough for some home chefs/ Prices are spiraling out of control. It's hard to get eggs. what to do. Budget wisely. You can have a bountiful table , full of delicious foods if you shop wisely first.

The main course for any Easter dinner is usually ham. Luckily Aldi and Wal-Mart have very good prices.Aldi starts at $12.75 for a boneless spiral one while Wal-Mart offers Kentucky Legend smoked ham. Lamb can also be served , with the ham or on it's own.Lidl has Butcher's Specialty boneless half lamb leg for $6.99 while Aldi offers ground lamb for $58.5 a pound. This can be turned into Greek kebabs, highlighted with lemon and a mix of ground cinnamon garlic and oregano. Another idea is getting smaller cuts of meat and letting the sides shine, Asparagus season is right now and many stores hare selling the stalks for under five dollars a bunch. These are versatile and can be made a variety of different ways. It's best Piedmontese style with melted butter and Parmesan cheese on top but you can also grill it after a bath in olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground pepper.Smashed potatoes are another light and affordable Easter meal side.Baby gold potatoes are being sold  at $2.97 at Wal-Mart and $3.99 at Target. These are perfect for the recipe and can be made in a few minutes.

Of course the other star of the Easter meal or more specifically brunch is quiche. It's primarily made up of those  elusive ingredients: eggs. The prices of these have dropped significantly so you can create an affordable pie.One quiche does require six eggs but that's because it's basically an egg pie, You can add everything from julienned or deviled ham to chopped asparagus, cheese and peppers. since this is a rich meal, think fruit salad for dessert or even a side. Melon is a good price right now Shop Rite is offering cantaloupe for $2.50  Three of these mixed with other fruits such as sliced bananas and oranges. A bag of fresh naval orange;s are $4.99 at Wal-mart. You can also use them to create miimosas  for a lovely brunch drink.Speaking of which a bottle of Asti Spumante is only $2.79 a bottle at Total Wine and More.Acme's Liquor store is selling Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato Champagne for $11.99. Don't worry about Easter chocolates. Lild has a wide array of chocolates at very good prices. The chocolate is German made and the taste is that of a much more expensive candy.

This is the year for a budget holiday. Yet it can still be a tasty feast if you shop smartly for it. Don't fret. You'll still  have the Easter dinner of your dreams.

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The Perfect Salad

 What makes a good salad? Start with the greens. then those tasty add in and finished with a drizzle of a favorite dressing. Yet many get this . What happened to perfection?

Personally I find that a bag of mixed greens is your best bet.

I like Fresh Express.

The salad is already cut, It' just needs to be thrown into a good salad bowl. As for the dressing.I usually start with adding about two to three tablespoons of a good olive oil like Lidls' and a teaspoons or a sprinkle of white wine vinegar - also Lidl

's. This way only a small amount of dressing is used and doesn't;t overpower the greens. S

alt and pepper help too.  I like to add croutons but if it's summer some tuna and fresh veggies to give it a Nicoise vibe.

I drizzle a generous amount of dressing - namely - Follow Your Heart ranch dressing.It has a mild flavor and but not overpowering. You can still taste the greens  with it. Cheese, sunflower seeds and almonds can top this if you want.

What makes a good salad? Thoughtfulness in creating it and good ingredients that you love. That's what makes a bowl of greens sing.

Dolmades A Tasty Treat

 The best mezzo or snack is dolmades or dolmas. These are grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat. These are a great way to be introduced to Greek and Middle eastern food.

YOu can easily make or buy them.I've found Eradanous brand grape ;eaves at my local Lidl. They also make vine leaves (Basically dolmades) stuffed with rice and pomegranate syrup.

This was a tasty snack but with a salad could make for a good, refreshing dinner.

Dolmades ca be made at home. Most stores do sell them but they also can be bought on Amazon too.A simple stuffing is rice but you can add leftover minced lamb or ground beef. Chopped onions are  another ingredient that will add more flavor to them. Uncooked rice and the other ingredients are placed atop whole grape leaves ,then rolled into little parcels. They're steamed in water for thirty to forty five minutes. They  can be eaten hot but they  r'e also good chilled , marinated in olive oil.

Dolmades are the perfect snack,appetizer or dinner. They 're bursting with flavor . Make them for a different kind of meal.

Hunt and Gather On A Budget

It isbecoming harder and harder to go grocery shopping these days. Despite all the campaign promises we still have sky high prices for everything. Forget eggs. Thanks to the avian flu and pricing , these are about as affordable as diamonds. What to do? As always  - shope wisely.

Doing all of one's shopping at one store may not be viable anymore. Home chefs may have to visit two or even three stores .The best ones with the best prices are Lidl, Aldi and Wal-Mart. Lidl' is probably your best bet. Not only do you receive decent prices , you also get really delicious food in the bargain. Some of their prices ave raised. Their olive oil has gone up by two dollars and their cookies have also gone up in price. Still they're the best buy.  Another plus about Lidl is ts that their wines and beers are also at a good budget friendly price. Aldi also has good prices . Frozen pizza is around five dollars. A bag of their chicken fries - always a fun meal is only $4.95, Roma tomatoes are nineteen cents a pound. A three pack  of green peppers is $3.85 . As for meat, again Lidl can't be beat. You can buy London Broil for $7.39 while Acme sells relatively the same cut for close to sixteen dollars. Lidl' also has Gulf shrimp for $7.99  This is a true bargain compared to Stop & Shop's version at $24.95

If course there is also Wal-Mart. One interesting aspect about their food section is that they sometimes acquire hard to get products like Dolly Parton;'s cake mixes and frostings when other stores didn't carry them. They also have a good array of holiday cake and cookie mixes  along with decorations.Another plus is that they have family sized boxes.. You can get good buys on everything from instant oatmeal to bread. This pays if you have a big family. Keep in mind that Wal-Mart probably has the best prices on kitchen appliances and gadgets too. Apps come in very handy too when you;re shopping on a budget. Keep track of all your digital coupons and use them when you can. Lidl' offers rewards when you spend over one hundred dollars and a special reward when you spend three indeed dollars. Be on the look out for BOGO sales, buy one get one either free or fifty per cent off. Most groceries like Acme have designated Tuesday as their senior discount day. People over the age of sixty receive ten per cent off their entire order. Shop on  these days for discounts.  Also Stop & Sop offers what;s known as reward gas points. They come in handy when you want to save at the pump.

For now it's hard to shop. Yet you can do it and save wisely, It just takes  shopping savvy to get discounted food.

Helping Each Other

 This is Martin Luther King Day, a day when we need to remember Dr King's words and actions. We will need this in the next four years and possibly beyond. Keep in mind people , family friends, neighbors will need our support.

Despite all the promises, food prices will not go down. Thankfully there are stores like Lidl and Aldi that offer good food at lower prices. Shop at them to save money. They, especially Lidl ,offer deep discounts on such expensive items as  eggs and milk. Wal.mart also has some good buys on various food stuffs and appliances too. Be judicious. Be smart. Another way is supporting small farms. These too will suffer in the upcoming years. Support them in the summer and fall when their harvests are ready to sell. Bring your family,friends and neighbors to shop and show them how they can save too if they haven't;t discovered these discount grocery stores.Another way to combat rising prices is start your own gardens. Start planning now for Spring planting. beginners should stick with easy veggies to grow. Think radishes and tomatoes along with carrots and peas. Fruit trees take a few years to mature and produce harvests. You can grow these if you;re patient enough. Remember to donate some fo your harvest to those who need it , whether family friends or neighbors. 

IN that same vein, some programs will most undoubtedly be cut.Veterans and the disabled will be needing help too. Again do what you can to donate to food pantries. If you own a restaurant, donate any overage to soup kitchen s .Another idea is do what rocker Jon Bon Jovi as done, His Soul Kitchens allow people to pay what they can or help out in the restaurants. This gives those struggling a chance for a night out which for some is a luxury.Also consider hiring these people too. They'll appreciate the job as well as whatever food they can bring home with them. Mentoring will also be important too. Any shop in the food industry or restaurant can do this, helping those who are struggling to get started with their own careers.Smaller shops like bakeries and meat markets can perhaps offer discounts on day old products and also offer discounts to students and veterans.These shops should also promote and sell small time artesans, those who make their own honey or baked goods along with kitchen items like towels and ceramics.

Today we honor Martin Luthr King. We should honor his principles and generosity too.It will make the next four years bearable. 

A Vegan Jersey Maque Choux

 Cajun food is a perfect chill chaser during this weather.One the famed masque choux  is one of those even if it's typically associated with summer barbecues. It a tasty melange of flavors and ingredients that work any time of year.

I decided to try the recipe after receiving the recipe in my email. It looked very tasty save for one ingredient - corn.With that I decided to sub in peas and chcikpeas since I  sadly can't digest corn.. I also used a base of Lidl's riced cauliflower stir fry which does have a little  corn and chopped green peppers

 

The recipe calls for real back on or ham but I used Morningstar Farms soy slices which gives more or less the same taste.

The true maque choux recipe calls for just butter but I used a mix of Country Crick plant butter and a bit of the Lid; olive oil.

It also calls for heavy cream,I used  a tablespoon of Violife's vegan sour cream and about quarter of a cup of Lidl's almond milk.

Chopped tomatoes are also added for more flavor as the original recipe. I used a generous dusting of onion powder and ground red pepper.

It's simmered over a medium flame for fifteen minutes.

I'd add the bacon later to keep it's crispness.As with any Cajun dish rice is a must so I used Lidl's Ninety minute kind

to stop up the sauce.

I arranged the bacon around the sides with rice 

This was deliciously flavorful with the hot pepper and cream sauce highlighting the vegetables and bacon. This is definitely going to be made a second and third time. It was very tasty and it can be made a variety of ways, whether the original or varied to suite individual  tastes.

Add Macque Choux to your winter table . It;s a fiery , creamy delight that's perfect for a cold night. Try it for a taste of New Orleans,