NEW ORLEANS FOOD AND RECIPES

Things to eat and how to make them

Send in your own picture of your favorite altar.  Full story »

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking a permanent injunction against a Gretna alfalfa sprout and mung bean grower for repeatedly ignoring the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's warnings of unsanitary conditions at the processing plant during the past nine years. On behalf of the FDA, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten filed the complaint Tuesday in federal court in New... Full story »

The April issue of Esquire magazine has an artful "Eat Like a Man" feature that includes a list of restaurants "Where Men Eat," and New Orleans' Cochon is on the list. "Go ahead and order the fried-oyster-and-bacon sandwich as an appetizer," the editors write. Even more interesting, perhaps, is a breakfast recipe from Chef Lee Richardson of the Capital Hotel... Full story »

Cream cheese, ricotta, goat cheese, fromage blanc...all are perfect for cheese lovers. Full story »

Marcelle has served this especially yummy dish often for small dinner parties.   Makes 4 servings 4 whole skinless boneless chicken breasts, halved (about 3 pounds) Salt, freshly ground black pepper and cayenne 1 1/4 cups ricotta cheese (about 10 ounces) 1 egg yolk 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons snipped chives or chopped green onions (green part only) 1 cup fresh... Full story »

If you like mac and cheese, this epicurean version will make you drool. Marcelle adapted it from "A Passion for Cheese." Bucatini is a long, thin hollow pasta. Makes 4 servings 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2/3 cup herb and garlic-flavored Boursin 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 2/3 cup creme fraiche 1/3 cup half-and-half Salt and freshly... Full story »

Marcelle also adapted this recipe from "A Passion for Cheese."   Makes 8 servings 2 1/2 cups whole milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 4 egg yolks 1 whole egg 1/2 cup sugar 4 1/2 cups mild soft goat's cheese Bring the milk and cream to a boil. Whisk the egg yolks, the egg and sugar together until thick, pale and creamy.... Full story »

If you like compound butters -- butter that has been mixed with seasonings and/or herbs to serve with steak, seafood and vegetables -- you might also enjoy cheese butters.   Makes 1 cup 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 1 stick butter, at room temperature 1 teaspoon minced garlic Pinch or 2 freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon minced thyme leaves... Full story »

Frequent contributor B.C.R. writes: "I wanted to share what I'm making tonight. Over time I've developed a good multi-grain bread, using the Cuban Bread from Bernard Clayton's great bread books. Clayton got the recipe from James Beard, and it appears on page 46 of his Beard on Bread as a 'French-Style Bread.' I added the whole grain cereal and... Full story »

This is from "I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening: Over 150 Ridiculously Easy Recipes for the Super Busy, " by Devin Alexander ($19.99, Broadway Books), who wrote "The Biggest Loser" Cookbooks.   Makes 4 servings 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon cayenne 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder Pinch sea salt Olive oil spray 2... Full story »

 This recipe is from Lynn Alley's "The Gourmet Vegetarian Slow Cooker: Simple and Sophisticated Meals From Around the World" ($19.99, 10 Speed Press). I love the idea of waking up to breakfast already made.   Makes 4 servings 1 1/2 cups organic brown basmati rice, rinsed well 3 1/2 cups water or soy milk 1 1/2 sticks cinnamon 2... Full story »

B.C.R. shared his good multi-grain bread recipe, which he calls "a marvelous and flavorful loaf."   Makes 2 loaves 1/2 cup 7, 8, or 9 grain cereal (such as Bob's Red Mill) 1 cup boiling water 1 cup whole wheat flour 4 1/2 to 5 cups bread flour, or all-purpose flour 2 packages instant yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons) 1 tablespoon salt 2... Full story »

Festivals being held in and around New Orleans, Louisiana the weekend of March 19-21, 2010 Full story »

What's your favorite altar to visit? Full story »

Online foodies haven Epicurious.com has done the leg work for us all by listing out their top five Irish Whiskeys in hopes of properly preparing you for St. Patrick's Day. (For more details including dinner and cheese pairings read the entire story here.) Making the cut this year are: "...this big-bodied, blended whiskey has certainly made its presence felt... Full story »