CAJUN CABBAGE ~ BLOG 366.207

Spicy and cheesy as well as hearty. Also a perfect dish for a cold winter’s eve, church socials, potlucks or even summer suppers. The cabbage stays somewhat crisp and makes this almost like a warm salad.

CAJUN CABBAGE

1 pound QUALITY ground beef
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
1 can ORIGINAL Rotel tomatoes
8 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 cup long grain rice (uncooked)
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped basil
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped oregano
1/4 +/- cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon FRANK’s original hot sauce
1 small head cabbage, chopped
1 – 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby cheese

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Heat skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add ground beef and season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Drain beef well.
  • Add oil to skillet.
  • When oil is heated add onion and pepper, sautéing until onion is translucent.
  • Add garlic, sautéing a minute more.
  • Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, hot sauce, basil, oregano, cayenne and rice, stirring to combine.
  • Spread into an ungreased baking dish.
  • Toss cabbage pieces and cheese together.
  • Top with chopped cabbage and cheese.
  • Cover and bake 1 hour + or until rice is tender.

CAJUN CAKE ~ BLOG 366.138

Cajun Cake AKA dump cake, which is a rather unattractive description for such a delicious, yet SUPER easy, cake.  

This version is an adaptation from an old cookbook, Cajun Cooking. The flavor has been pumped up by substituting some brown sugar for some of the granulated, as well as adding both PURE vanilla and a pinch of salt, which helps OOMPH up the flavor. The icing recipe has been doubled also.
CAJUN CAKE
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
16 ounce crushed pineapple with juice
2 LARGE eggs

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray an 11×7 baking dish and set aside.
  • Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. 
  • Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • While cake bakes, prepare Coconut Pecan Icing.

COCONUT PECAN ICING
12 ounce can evaporated milk
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups packed shredded, sweetened coconut
1 cup toasted chopped pecans
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Bring evaporated milk, butter and sugar to a boil, reduce heat and cook at a SLOW boil for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat. Stir in coconut, pecans, vanilla and salt.
  • Pour hot icing over warm cake; allow cake to cool to room temperature before serving.

CAJUN HONEY BUTTER OR LEMON PEPPER SALMON & SHRIMP

CAJUN HONEY BUTTER OR LEMON PEPPER SALMON & SHRIMP
Sweet and savory pan-seared salmon topped with sautéed shrimp in cajun butter sauce. Salmon New Orleans is an unforgettable meal.

4-6 ounce salmon fillets
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled, de-veined
8 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons honey

LEMON PEPPER & SEA SALT seasoning
FRESH ground sea salt
LEMON pepper
Sweet Hungarian Paprika

OR

CAJUN seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon onion salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
heaping ½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

  • In a small bowl whisk together all Cajun OR Lemon Pepper seasoning ingredients and set aside.
  • Season the salmon with fresh ground salt and pepper to taste.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add honey and whisk to combine (mixture should be bubbly).
  • Add salmon fillets to pan and cook for 5-6 minutes, then flip and cook another 5-6 minutes until salmon is cooked through, flaky, and browned.
  • Transfer salmon pieces to a platter and cover to keep warm.
  • Add remaining butter to the pan over medium-high heat. Once butter is melted, stir in cajun seasoning.
  • Add shrimp to pan and saute’ until opaque, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Serve salmon topped with shrimp pieces.
  • Drizzle any extra pan sauce over the top and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
  • Serve immediately.

CHILI LIME SALMON with PAN ROASTED STREET CORN

CHILI LIME SALMON with PAN ROASTED STREET CORN serves 4
These flavors blend together so well to create a Cajun fajita mix with crispy roasted peppers that mix with the street corn spice edge to have a party in your mouth all while being completely healthy.

CHILI LIME SALMON
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (or juice of 2 limes)
1/4 cup fresh finely chopped parsley
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons water
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons red chili flakes (adjust to your preference of spice)
1 teaspoon ground Cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons FRESH ground sea salt
1 tablespoon QUALITY honey
4 salmon fillets of even sizes
1/2 pound mini sweet peppers, de-seeded and cut into rings
1 small Vidalia onion, cut into wedges

  • Preheat oven to broil.
  • Arrange oven shelf about 6 inches below broiler.
  • Line a baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick spray; set aside.
Whisk together the lime juice, minced parsley, avocado oil, water, garlic, chilli flakes, cumin and salt until well blended.
  • Add the honey and whisk again until the honey is well blended with the rest of the ingredients.
  • Toss peppers and onions with half of the honey mixture.
  • Arrange the salmon fillets on baking sheet.
  • With a slotted spoon remove peppers and onions arranging around the salmon fillets in a single layer.
  • Pour the honey mixture evenly over the salmon fillets.
  • Broil about 10 minutes until the peppers are just beginning to char at the edges and the salmon is cooked to your liking.
  • Remove from the oven and serve immediately with lime wedges and remaining honey sauce for added flavor.

While salmon pan is broiling, prepare corn. BUT, BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SALMON TO AVOID BURNING.

PAN ROASTED STREET CORN
4 whole Corn Cobs, husked and kernels cut from the cob
2 tablespoons Butter, softened
4 tablespoons Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Bragg’s liquid aminos
1 pinch Cayenne
1 pinch each FRESH ground Sea Salt and Black Pepper
1/2 cup crumbled Cotija Cheese
1 bunch Cilantro, chopped

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat melt butter.
  • Add corn kernels, sautéing until beginning to caramelize.
  • Whisk together the mayonnaise, liquid aminos, cayenne, salt and pepper.
  • Drizzle mayo mixture over corn kernels, stirring to coat.
  • Cook 2-3 minutes more.
  • Sprinkle with cotija cheese and cilantro.
  • Serve immediately.