Tag Archives: louisiana

Crawfish Etouffee Recipe

I just had to share tonight’s dinner with you because it is so fabulous.  After a recent trip to California I felt it was necessary to share the EASIEST CRAWFISH ETOUFFEE recipe with my “Cali” girls since they all wanted me to cook for them.  Now, just know I made it as simple as possible so “anyone” can do it.

Étouffée or etouffee:
 (pronounced: [e.tu.fe] ay-too-fay) is a dish found in both Cajun and creole cuisine typically served with shellfish over rice. It is most popular in New Orleans and in the bayou country of the southernmost half of Louisiana.

 Ya know, Louisiana has some of the BEST food ever. Lafayette actually just won Southern Living’s tastiest town award!  Can you believe that! It’s amazing!
Click HERE if you want to read more about this!

Let’s get started!

 Grab a bell pepper and if you like, an onion.

Start by melting 2 sticks of butter. (I know, I know) Super healthy, right! Have you ever seen Paula Deen?

 Dice your bell pepper and onion and throw them in the mix.

You KNOW I am using my “slap ya mamma” cajun seasoning. Just add a little sprinkle in the pot.

Add 2 pounds of crawfish and sautee for a while until everything becomes wilted… Ya know, a little SOFT!

After sautéing for a bout 15 minutes add a can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup.

Add a splash of Louisiana HOT SAUCE. (ya know us cajun’s NEVER measure)
Just add till you feel it’s spicy enough.

 Sprinkle some garlic salt (um…about a teaspoon) to add a twist of garlic in it!

Well lookie here! We have some FABULOUS food to eat! How simple and refreshing. Don’t worry if your belly feels REALLY full, it’s supposed too! You can put this on top of rice, baked potato or a juicy steak! Toast some bread and that will really finish it off.
p.s. don’t forget your sweet tea!

Just “incase” you can’t get crawfish locally you can order some from The Louisiana Cajun Crawfish Co.
I  hope you enjoy making this yummy meal and lemme know how it comes out!

Don’t be afraid to add your own seasonings to to satisfy your taste buds! I typically add WAY more but wanted to keep it simple for ya!

Sending you full bellies full of LOVE,

I received product for this post. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. 

Duncan Hines Angel Food Cake REVIEW

I have always LOVED to bake. My mom was/IS a great baker and I would like to think I have a little bit of her ” baking” genes. {haha}

I love making things from scratch. Not the biggest fan of box mixes.

I ran across a certain box mix the other day and it just made me wonder if it would taste like my “homemade” version.

I guess from what I hear a lot of people use box mixes. I mean I don’t blame you! They are easy and fast. Ya know though, there is something special about getting out that big mixer and an apron. Something about getting flour all over and making a little mess. Maybe it’s the memory I have of flour all over and me and my mom baking. I have this certain picture of me and mom baking in the kitchen. I must have wiped my hands on my {{{you know what}}} and you know my mom got it on film. TWO perfect little hand prints made out of flour. I need to find that picture because I swear for some strange reason I remember that particular day.

Isn’t that funny how you can “not” remember so much but then you can remember things from when you were so little?!?!? CUH-Razy!!!

Let me start this post because momma is tired from working so hard this weekend!

I know cake is cake but do you think this “angel” food cake will be delicious? ?!?!? Let’s SEE!

So here is the box that caught all of my little attention! I swear I wanted to jump through the box and eat all of the blueberries! AND IT’S FAT FREE!!!

Pour all of the mix into a large mixing bowl and add your water. (just make sure you follow the directions on the back of box)

Now this part is important. You can’t mix for very long! This could mess up the whole cake if you don’t follow these directions to a T!!!! {{{I would NOT know}}}haha

I used our wonderful kitchen aid that is from mother in law (thanks it is the best thing ever)! You can get one HERE!!!


RIGHT after you mix your cake mix pour it into your pan and stick it RIGHT in the oven.  Do you remember Martha Stewart’s Blueberry-Lemon Bundt Cake??? If you have not seen this recipe click here to check it out! 

I’m decided to make my OWN topping. I didn’t want to use whip cream so I grabbed a box of Pistachio pudding. Make sure you click on that link to check out all of Jell-O ‘s awesome flavors.  I LOVE THIS STUFF… oh, and some strawberries and blueberries.

Mix your pudding and set aside.

Now doesn’t this look so pretty! I somehow deleted the AWESOME picture I took of this baby in the oven. I swear ashy was laughing the whole time because it was getting SOOOOO big she swore it was going to touch the top of the oven! I was like a mad scientist in the kitchen. I can’t lie. This turned out better than I thought. I wasn’t as soft as my homemade one but the flavor was great! I guess for the future if I need to recommend a cake mix this would be the one!

I hope you had a great weekend and didn’t work everyday like I did! Is it REALLY already MONDAY? Lawd!

Wishing there were a gazillion hours in a day,

* All opinions expressed are 100% mine.  

DIY: Mardi Gras Bead Onesie

Happy (almost) Mardi Gras! Living in the SOUTH all of my life I got to experience the best of MARDI GRAS, year after year. I think most people in the world refer to New Orleans when they think of Mardi Gras. Lafayette gives New Orleans a run for it’s money! I grew up knowing that when Mardi Gras comes around it’s time to PARTY. Lemme tell you, people in the SOUTH can drink. Probably too much. I really love Mardi Gras for the Krewes, Balls, Parades and the best parties. 

What Mardi Gras is also known for is the BEADS!!!! I know you heard of what we do, right? It is “known” (fine it’s TRUE) that women AND men will do anything to get a bead, including lifting their shirts. Ya know, it’s like a free peep show, realllly free. Just warning ya now, your picture can appear all over the world in like…5 minutes so make sure if you DO lift your shirt that it is a bead with diamonds in it!! HAHA

During this holiday season you will see EVERYONE walking around with loads and loads of beads around their neck. It’s kinda like bad manners if you don’t have at least ONE bead around your neck. I found some pictures of me and some friends in New Orleans last year on my computer and I got to thinking. I know babies start young here and I wanted to create something that is super easy and ANYONE can do! Ya know, it’s prolly not the safest thing in the world putting loads of bead around an infants neck. JS

Let’s get started because I am ((((aghhhh)))) so excited!!!

Grab some “all in one” get ups!

Of course I used Martha Stewarts new line of paints. I got them from Michaels Arts and Crafts and they are AMAZING!

These are the colors of the paint used for this project. Make sure you note that some are glitter, high gloss and metallic.

Just in case you don’t know, her new line of paint can be used in multiple ways. One way that I love the most it being able to use it on fabric. Grab some fabric medium and follow the directions. It’s super simple and you can put ANYTHING you want on fabric!

Your MAIN tool though is this sucker! Yes! Can you believe it! Just a simple pencil.

I have these little trays I use for paint but if you don’t you can use whatever is laying around. A paper plate works great!

Just dip your eraser into the paint.

I put a piece of paper in between the two layers so the paint wouldn’t bleed through.

Start making dot’s. If you notice I am making a “eraser” bead necklace. How fun!!!! OH wait till you see the end result!!

This is what it should start to look like.


Doesn’t this look like something you could just eat up!

I know you are like… OMG!! This just makes me feel so happy inside. Oh, did I mention it’s a little safer than REAL beads choking a baby’s neck!!!

So this little get up is 18 month’s. I am doing a quick GIVEAWAY. If you want this or know someone who would like it then SIGN UP TO WIN IT! Plus it’s super fun to win things! 

To enter the GIVEAWAY you will need to leave a comment to this post and tell me why you love this onesie, why you love Mardi Gras or your favorite memory of Mardi Gras. If you have NEVER experienced Mardi Gras then just tell me what you like about this cutey patootie outfit! 

Extra entries are and extra way to enter!!!

Following me on Facebook  (extra entry)

Leave a comment on Facebook telling me why you love this outfit!  (extra entry)

Follow me on TWITTER  (extra entry)

Subscribe to my feed on my website www.jaderbomb.com (it’s at the top right and you will enter your email)

Jaderbugs! That is up to 5 entries!!!! GOOD LUCK AGAIN!!! It will end on Saturday!!!

Trying to hurry and finish this post before my computer dies, 

Southern Living: The South’s TASTIEST TOWN AWARDS


OK everyone, Southern Living is giving different cities in the SOUTH a chance to win the title of “The South’s tastiest town” award.  Wanna know the best thing of all? Lafayette Louisiana is in FIRST PLACE right now! Louisville is right below us but with your vote we can stay on top!

Click on the picture that says VOTE Lafayette to go vote!

Here’s why Lafayette earned its ranking as one of the 10 Tastiest Towns in the South:

There are plenty of new reasons to linger in Lafayette. A new batch of homegrown chefs is delving deep into the region’s robust culinary roots, with stellar takes on Acadiana classics. Consider The French Press, where the vibe is hip vintage and the must-have dish is Sweet Baby Breesus (slider-size biscuits filled with bacon, fried boudin, and Steen’s cane syrup).

At Johnson’s Boucanière, Lori Walls serves homemade smoked meat and boudin, just like her parents did at their store in Eunice, Louisiana. Then there’s homecoming king Donald Link, who just opened his second Cochon here, Cochon Lafayette.

Cast your vote daily from December 22 through January 31 and you’ll help name The South’s Tastiest Town to be announced in the April issue of Southern Living magazine. Plus, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $2,500 cash prize for a trip to any Tasty Town of your choice. How cool would that be!

Let me know what you think about this! Do you think your town should have been on the list? If so tell me why! If you have EVER been to Lafayette tell me what was the best think you ever ate!  I can’t wait to see who wins! Don’t forget to click on the links to check these awesome places out!

Dreaming of Prejean’s crawfish enchiladas and a ice cold coke in a bottle,