• 2 LB red beans (dried, Camellia brand if available)
• 2-3 TBS olive oil
• 1½ LG onions (chopped)
• ½ C green onion (chopped)
• 1 LG bell pepper (chopped)
• 10 cloves garlic (minced)
• 3 TBS parsley (dried)
• 3 bay leaves
• 1-2 QT chicken stock
• 1½-2 LB sausage (sliced)
• 1 LB tasso (cubed) (optional)
• 1 LB ham (cubed) (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Spread the red beans out on a wide shallow tray to check for and discard any stones or other material that may have been missed during packaging.
2. Prepare the red beans in advance in one of two ways:
   • 1) Add to a bowl and add water to cover by 3″ and soak 8-12 hours (or overnight)
   • 2) In a 5-6 QT pot add the red beans and enough water to cover by 3″ and bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and allow to soak for a minimum of 1 hour.
3. In a heavy 5-6 QT pot, heat the oil then brown off the sausage and any other meats, then remove from the pot and set aside.
4. Saute the onions and bell pepper till soft. Add garlic and cook for 3-5 minutes.
5. Add the red beans, meats, parsley, bay leaf, seasonings, and enough chicken stock to cover everything by 2″.
6. Bring to a boil, then back the heat down to a simmer and cook 2-3 hours or until beans are tender.
7. Add stock or water as needed to maintain a creamy consistency. Consistency is obtained by frequent stirring during the last ⅓ of cooking time. To thicken (if needed) remove and mash a small amount of cooked beans and stir back into the pot.
8. Taste to correct seasonings in last ⅓ of time.
9. Serve over rice.
   

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Proceed as indicated above.
2. After adding the beans and other ingredients, add stock to fill the pot just above the beans.
3. Put the lid on and cook on low for 8-12 hours or until the beans are tender.
4. To thicken up the beans, during the last 1-2 hours of cooking remove the lid to allow for evaporation, and stir frequently, mashing beans against the side of the pot while stirring. If the beans are too thick, add stock or water to suit.
5. Taste to correct seasonings after cooking.
6. Serve over rice.

Pressure Cooker Instructions:

1. Proceed as indicated above.
2. After adding the beans and other ingredients, add stock to fill the pot 1” above beans.
3. Seal the pot and bring to full pressure.
4. Cook for 40 to 50 minutes or until the beans are tender.
5. Thicken the beans by mashing against the side of the pot while stirring, as you are not able to stir/thicken the beans as you cook. If the beans are too thick, add stock or water to suit. If they are too thin and watery, continue cooking the beans with the cooker lid off to evaporate some of the water. Taste to correct seasonings after cooking.
6. Serve over rice.

¼ C vegetable or olive oil
½ C flour
½-1 LB andouille (or any smoked) sausage (sliced)
1 LG onion (chopped)
6-8 cloves garlic (minced)
½ C (one bunch) green onion
½ C celery (chopped fine)
1 MED bell pepper (chopped)
28 OZ canned crushed tomatoes
3 TBS parsley
¼ TSP thyme
1 TSP cayenne (or to taste)
1 TSP liquid crab boil (or to taste)
2½ TSP salt (or to taste)
½ TSP pepper to taste (or to taste)
5 LB raw peeled shrimp
1 LB crabmeat (white or claw)
1½ QT raw oysters (optional)
2 LB cooked crawfish tails
2 LB raw catfish (cut into chunks) (optional)
Kitchen Bouquet (optional, for color)

In heavy 5-6 QT pot brown the sausage, set aside. Remove any remaining liquid from the pot and make a roux from ¼ C oil and ½ C flour, stirring constantly until sufficiently browned. Add all of the vegetables except the tomatoes to the roux and sauté until onion is clear and soft. Add the tomatoes, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper, cayenne and liquid crab boil. Add 1 QT of water to start and cook 1½ hours over medium heat stirring frequently, adding water as needed to maintain gumbo consistency. Add Kitchen Bouquet in small increments to adjust color if too pale. Add the seafood at the end. Cook for 10 more minutes, only till shrimp, catfish and oysters are done (overcooking makes the shrimp tough). Serve over rice. Even better the next day.

2 large onions (chopped)
½ C fresh parsley
2 C celery (chopped)
6-10 cloves garlic (minced)
2 bunches (½ C) green onions(chopped)
½ TSP thyme (to taste)
½-1 gallon oysters (and their water)
Salt and pepper to taste
3 loaves stale french bread or bags of stuffing bread
1-2 TBS olive oil (for sauté)

Temperature: 350

Soak bread (from bags or loaves) in oyster water. Squeeze as dry as possible (bread is soft and formless). Chop oysters finely in Cuisinart or blender. Sauté till cooked then set aside. Reduce the resulting fluid to ¼ volume. Sauté onion and garlic. Add celery and green onion stir fry till soft and blended. In a large pot, mix soaked bread and vegatables. Add cooked oysters and reduced oyster water. Add parsley, thyme, 2 TSP salt and ½ TSP pepper to start. Mix well using your hands. Add bread crumbs from 4th loaf or chicken stock (or oyster water) to adjust consistency (soft and moist – not wet). Stuff in poultry or bake in a pan.

Filling:
1 can (15 OZ) sweetened condensed milk (Eagle brand)
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites (used for meringue topping)
½ C fresh lemon juice
½ TSP grated lemon peel

Crust:
Vanilla wafer crumbs

Temperature:

Loosely pack the vanilla wafer crumbs in bottom and up sides of a 9″ pie plate (metal or oven-proof ceramic). Stand a layer of whole wafers around the sides of pan. Beat egg yolks slightly then mix into milk. Stir in lemon juice with a spoon. Let stand 5-10 minutes or till thickened. Pour into crust. Top with meringue or Cool Whip. Pie requires no baking unless meringue is used. Chill 5 hours before serving. Also good for cake filling. Keep refrigerated.

1 bar (4 OZ) sweet chocolate (German’s)
1/8 TSP salt
¼ C butter
2 eggs
1 12 OZ can evaporated milk
1 TSP vanilla
1½ C sugar
3 TBS cornstarch
1+1/3 C (7 OZ) PKG coconut (Angel Flake)
½ C chopped pecans
1 unbaked pie shell

Temperature: 375

Melt chocolate and butter together. Beat milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt in mixing bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Blend into chocolate mixture gradually till all is smooth. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Mix coconut and pecans then sprinkle over filling in pie shell. Bake for 45 minutes till it’s puffed-filling is soft, but sets as it cools. Cool 4 hours at room temperature before serving.

2 egg whites (beaten stiff)
2/3 C sugar
6 OZ semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 C pecans (chopped)
1/8 TSP salt
1 TSP vanilla

Temperature: 350

Gradually add sugar to stiffly beaten egg whites then beat till very stiff and sugar dissolves. Add vanilla and salt, beat for 30 seconds. Fold in nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by TSP onto ungreased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Place in a pre-heated oven then immediately turn off heat. Leave cookies in oven overnight.

3 eggs
1 C cake flour
1 C sugar
1 TSP baking powder
1/3 C water
¼ TSP salt
1 TSP vanilla
2/3 C jam or filling (lemon, chocolate, almond, cream, etc.)
Confectioners xxx powdered sugar

Temperature: 375

Beat eggs on high till thick – about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar till it dissolves and mix is light and fluffy. Blend water in on low speed. Mix all dry ingredients then add to batter gradually on low till barely blended. Line a 15x10x1″ pan with parchment. Pour batter evenly into the pan then bake for 12-15 minutes. Invert warm cake onto a cloth towel that has been sprinkled with powdered sugar then roll it. Cool completely. Unroll, spread with jam or filling then re-roll. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or frost with icing – especially for cream or chocolate filled. Powdered sugar is best for jam or lemon filled cakes.

1 yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1 PKG lemon Jell-o
¾ C hot water
¾ C vegatable cooking oil
1 small can frozen lemonade concentrate
¾ C sugar

Temperature: 350

Beat eggs slightly and add to the cake mix, blend till moistened. Dissolve jello in the hot water, then add oil. Pour all at once into mix. Beat on low for 2 minutes. Pour into greased or floured 10″ tube or bunt pan. Bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and pierce top with a long meat fork (tines should reach the pan bottom). Mix lemonade and sugar then pour over warm cake while it’s still in the pan. Allow cake to cool completely in the pan.

1 egg
1 TBS baking powder
1 C milk
1 TBS sugar
2 TBS vegatable oil, melted butter or margarine
½ TSP salt
1¼ C flour

Temperature:

Beat together egg, milk and oil. Mix all dry ingredients then add to the liquid mix. Stir the flour into the dry mix just until moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Pour onto hot griddle or flat pan. Cook until bubbles form on top of pancake. When bubbles begin to break, flip the pancake and cook till it is browned and center is done. Serve with honey, butter, cinnamon or pancake syrup.

4 dozen oysters and liquid
1 TSP lemon juice
1 onion (grated)
Dash cayenne
2 TBS melted butter
1 TBS flour
Patty shells
2 TBS parsley
½ can chopped mushrooms (optional)
Salt/pepper to taste
12 large or 36 party sized patty shells

Temperature: 425

Quarter or chop oysters and sauté in their water for 10 minutes then set aside. Sauté onion in butter. Blend in the flour. Add remaining ingredients. Add oysters. Cook for 5 minutes. Spoon into 12 large or 36 party sized patty shells. Bake for 10 minutes just before serving.

The patty shells are also known as vol-au-vent, and are used in many common forms of canapé.