Triple whammy brownies

Triple Whammy Brownies

Sometimes I get recipes in the funniest of situations. I happen to be at my local Jewel shopping the baking supplies aisle looking to see if there was anything new on the market to try. When all of a sudden I am knocked into by a woman carrying more items than she should. Of course, all of her items fall out of her hands and mostly directly into my cart.

I helped her collect the items (brownie mix, cookie mix, Oreo cookies, etc) and we begin to chat. She tells me that she is in a hurry to get home and fix a dessert for her book club that is starting in a few hours. The recipe is for what is originally known as “better than sex brownies”, but she quickly renamed as “triple whammy brownies” because they include brownie mix, cookie mix, Oreo cookies, and a few other ingredients.

Can I say that brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and Oreo cookies are my absolute favorite desserts!!

As I help her bring her items to the register counter, we quickly exchange email addresses, and that is how I received the recipe for Triple Whammy Brownies that are best served warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream.

Click here for the recipe!

Quick shrimp and sausage gumbo

Quick Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

A friend that is a busy mom wanted to introduce her kids to Cajun food, but didn’t want to spice up their tastes pallets too much. She created this wonderful gumbo that she calls Midwest meets Louisiana and serves it to her family as part of their Mardi Gras celebration.

While this is not your traditional Louisiana style gumbo which takes hours in the kitchen, this version is quick and easy but gives you a close taste to traditional Cajun gumbo.

Click here for the recipe!

Cajun shrimp soup

Cajun Shrimp Soup

I recently did some window shopping at the Deer Park Town Center in Deer Park and was pulled into the Williams-Sonoma by the tantalizing aroma.   At the front cooking station was a chef making Cajun Shrimp Soup using gumbo filé.

After commenting about the wonderful smell, the chef told me that as a mainstay of Cajun and Creole cooking, gumbo filé lends a woodsy, herbal sassafras flavor, with delicate tangy and peppery notes, to the soup she was making.

I had to agree that the soup had a wonderful taste and was told that those wanting a heartier soup that resembles a quick version of gumbo, you can ladle each serving of soup over a scoop of cooked long-grain rice.

Click here for the recipe!

Gumbo filled pastry shells

Gumbo Filled Pastry Shells

Looking for a new twist on an old favorite? Then try this Gumbo Filled Pastry Shell recipe to kick off your Mardi Gras celebration!

Golden puff pastry shells are filled with a Louisiana-style gumbo made with chicken, shrimp, kielbasa, green and red peppers and cream of celery soup.  This recipe has great taste and comfort written all over it!

Click here for the recipe!

Mardi Gras sweet yeast bread

Sweet Yeast Bread

Delight your guests during your Mardi Gras celebration by serving this Mardi Gras Sweet Yeast Bread for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with tea or coffee.

The King Cake is a New Orleans tradition that involves a pastry, a small plastic baby, and a party. The King Cake is baked with a small plastic baby hidden inside;  the person who gets the slice with baby in it has to host the next party.  It is traditionally decorated with sprinkles of purple, green and gold sugar, or decorate with whole pecans and candied cherries.

This is not your traditional Mardi Gras Kings cake, but instead a sweet bread with a rich almond pastry filling. 

Click here for the recipe!

Gumbo casserole

Gumbo Casserole

Short on time, but still want to make a Cajun favorite, then this Gumbo Casserole using Campbell’s soup is just the ticket.

Two comfort foods, gumbo and casserole, come together to make a tasty family favorite.  Plus, it takes just 15 minutes to put together before you pop it in the oven...you don't even have to cook the rice beforehand.

Click here for the recipe!