Real Men Wear Aprons from Zazzle.com

Zazzle Store info- 
http://www.zazzle.com/figstreetstudio?rf=238720872070265283

Real Men Wear Aprons by figstreetstudio
Browse other Aprons

http://www.zazzle.com/figstreetstudio?rf=238720872070265283

Art on Aprons

Artsy Aprons, art on cooking aprons, http://ow.ly/p7cC

Carolina Quilt Square 2 by figstreetstudio
Make your own apron on zazzle

Northshore Muscadine Grape Jelly 2009

Each September I pick wild Muscadine Grapes in my yard and make jelly. This year we had a lot of grapes in Pearl River but I only made a few jars as last year I made 8 jars and have 4 left over. Too much sweet jelly may be a bad thing for the waist line? Over the years I have altered my recipe. I use the package pectin directions as a guide but do as I like with flavor. This year I left out adding in store bought grape juice but add in a pinch of cinnamon. I also let in a few of the skins, although Muscadine grape skin is tuff I like the look of the jelly, it gets a darker purple. Yum, I tasted the spoon after it cooled and it tastes great. I also used recycled jars this year and they sealed well.

---

For 4 jars of jelly, use about 5 cups or so fresh picked Muscadine grapes and 1 cup of water or white grape juice. (Any other juice you like to add would do fine too, like apple.) Slowly cook Muscadines and mash them well when soft. Mash well add in other juice. Remove from heat and put through fruit juice masher and strainer. Let cool well add in any other flavor, tsp vanilla, cinnamon, whatever you like.
Strain juice as well as you like. I leave in some smashed fruit.
Use 1 box pectin, add 1 tbsp. lemon juice
Measure juice and add equal amout of sugar or use directions on pectin box.


Cook juice in large pot add sugar to recipe on box of pectin. Mix pectin with juice and bring quickly to a hard, rolling boil, stirring all the time. Stir until sugar dissolves and bring to a full rolling boil (a boil that cannot be stirred down). Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Stop cooking, skim off foam if you like. Put into sterilized jelly jars, leaving some headspace.
Clean jars with a damp towel and seal with new lids according to manufacturer's instruction. Process 5 to 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Crawfish, What's In A Name

That Old Crawfish: What’s In The Name? Blog info on word "Crawfish" http://ow.ly/ixB9 #cajun #crawfish #nola







The word "Crawfish " comes from the Cajun French word "escrevisse". Many places use other names, crayfish, crawdad, mudbug but we here in Louisiana prefer "crawfish". No matter what it is called it is a favorite food in spring. Boiled Crawfish with corn, potatoes, garlic, sausage and more is served at many family picnic or back yard party. I am told the real scientific name is Astacoidea Cambardae and there are over 300 types in North America alone, a big family even by Cajun standards. The art of boiling them was covered in another blog entry but it is easy just get any of the boiling spice packages from Rex or Zatarain's and follow the directions. To make it real fancy people add in corn on the cob, and other veggies that boil well, even artichokes. Whatever you like add in the boiling water and have friends over.

One time I even wrote a fable about a Cajun Mermaid, part crawfish part woman on how the first Cajun ate the beautiful red swamp crawfish.


I use the crawfish too in many of my gift designs sold on the web at http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/596208 I would think along with the Fleur De Lis, the Crawfish is a symbol of Louisiana. See the Fleur De Marais design here: http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/5246408





By whatever name it is called it is a fun delicious food found in the swamps of South Louisiana, the swamps we must all protect as they once protected us.

Faux Bud's Broiler Hickory Smoke Sauce

Hamburger In Blue Art by figstreetstudio

Grill Master with Dog
by figstreetstudio

Vintage Style Cartoon, Hamburger Man Poster
by figstreetstudio

Everyone asks about Bingoman's Hickory Smoke Sauce, like Bud's Broiler, Secret Sauce. Bingoman has made this sauce for years and uses it on burgers and other grilled meats. Many have said it tastes like the Hickory Smoked Sauce loved in New Orleans. Well yes, it is an original New Orleans recipe made for years the same way. Best slow cooked, and slapped on warm. To help with good old fashioned home cooking Bingoman put it in a cooking blog at http://stuffedartichoke.blogspot.com/2007/05/secret-hickory-smoke-sauce.html Now all those displaced from home can grill up a burger, grill some sweet onions, slap them on a bun and remember when they were home. Do remember to slightly squish the bun as you place the top over the slapped on Secret Hickory Smoke Sauce.

From the Recipe Blog:

"The sauce must be cooked to develop the flavors, depending on how much you need just remember the basic is half tomato ketchup and half tomato sauce in a sauce pan. Simmer on med heat add in the secret stuff, Liquid Hickory Smoke and Chili Powder to taste, not too much enough so the taste of the Hickory comes through and the Chili calms down the tomatoes. After it cooks a while let it on simmer and keep it warm.

Over the years I have used it in many other dishes, Frito Pie, which is just corn chips and can chili, no beans, topped off with cheese and the secret sauce. I also put it on my re fried beans as a topping with cheese. It has many uses. And you can get the Hickory Smoke Sauce apron by clicking on my store link http://www.figstreet.com/studio or to go to my studio store on the web at Cafe Press or Zazzle."

I have aprons with comical sayings and more at this link- http://www.zazzle.com/figstreetstudio/aprons

Pig Roast, Cochon De Lait
by figstreetstudio

Road Kill Cafe
by figstreetstudio

New Orleans Po Boy T-Shirt

by figstreetstudio

Red Beans

IT"S MONDAY! Red Beans and Rice Magnethttp://ping.fm/ofE15 #nola

Red Beans and Rice Mondays by figstreetstudio
Browse Red T-Shirts

Zuma Coffee, and Red Beans and Rice

Last January I passed through Marshall, NC and discovered a nice breakfast spot, Zuma Coffee. It is more than a coffee shop or cafe but a spot in town people stop in and chat, person to person. Not being all that familiar with the area I was amazed at the number of friendly people who gathered here. Today I met one person who was also here in January and hoping to see a few more before I head out to a local grocery. A friend asked I cook read beans and rice for lunch at her office. I will stop in the store get the provisions and cook lunch then head to Asheville for a short visit. It is amazing to me how people love New Orleans home cooking and often I am asked about it as I travel. I hope it comes off well. It is not often I am asked to cook in an office though so I thought that would be nice. Seems red beans and rice are a nice ice breaker when visiting new people. I have some red bean designs on gifts here http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/1668996

Road Kill Cafe T Shirt

You Kill Em, We Grill Em-

Road Kill Cafe by figstreetstudio
Create Custom T Shirts using www.Zazzle.com
Browse other Road T-Shirts

Road Kill Cafe T-Shirt
by figstreetstudio

Road Kill Cafe - Eat Moe Coon T-Shirt

by figstreetstudio

Road Kill Cafe T-Shirt
by figstreetstudio

Road Kill Cat T-Shirt

by figstreetstudio

Road Kill Cafe - Eat Moe Coon by figstreetstudio
Browse other Raod T-Shirts

Real Men Wear Aprons

Real Men Wear Aprons by figstreetstudio
Create men's cooking aprons at www.Zazzle.com
See other Cook Aprons

GRITS Shirts

GRITS are for lovers and more GRITS shirts- http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/459426
The favorite southern food.

Crawfish Art on Shirt

Red, white and blue crawfish poster on a shirt.

Crawfish Red and Blue by figstreetstudio

Many crawfish designs sold at Fig Street Studio.

Peace Love Red Beans Shirt

New Orleans Fig Street Studio : New Orleans Food : Red Beans and Rice : More Red Beans and Rice Posters : Red Beans and Rice Poster T-Shirt- http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/6428157