Thursday night dinner party!

I have a standing dinner party almost every Thursday evening, in the home of one of my favorite clients. After the kids (all five of them) have enjoyed their dinner of Chicken Nuggets, Corn and Pasta, the adults sit down to a relatively quiet meal. This past week was a particularly beautiful dinner. It may just be the yellow plates (one of my favorite colors) but everything looked as good as it tasted.

We started with a Bibb Leaf Salad tossed with a Creole Mustard Vinaigrette, roasted Butternut Squash and a thin slice of Bermuda Triangle Goats Milk Cheese. Bermuda Triangle is made by Cypress Grove Chevre. It is a soft ripened, double rind cheese with a Vegetable Ash rind. It is very, very good!
For the main course they enjoyed a piece of pan-seared Wild Speckled Trout, served over a bed of Spaghetti Squash and Broccoli Rabe. Sauced with a twist on the classic Amandine, made with the zest and juice of an organic Louisiana Satsuma instead of the traditional Lemon Juice, and in place of chopped parsley to finish I substituted a chiffonade of Basil from the family's garden.

Dessert was a classic, Chocolate Creme Brulee with a burnt Turbinado Sugar crust. Consumed in moments! A great meal!

Whoopie!!!

What a busy Tuesday Farmers Market! A big thank you to everyone that came out and bought lunch/breakfast on Tuesday morning. The menu was a big hit, but I have to say that the Sweet Potato & Cinnamon Whoopie Pies were the biggest hit of all! I could have sold 100 of them, but I had to settle (and did so happily) for the 45 that I prepared. I had many requests for the recipe so it is below.

While browsing online I also discovered this gem of a blog (with the drawings to match)...Cake Spy. I was so happy to know that I was in the know when I saw her recent post of Whoopie Pies. Check out her blog, her drawings and her post...Everybody likes (Cookie) Sandwiches.

Enjoy the recipe and I hope to see you all again next Tuesday for NOLA Bean's final Tuesday at the Crescent City Farmers Market!

Sweet Potato Whoopie Pies

For the Cookie Cakes:
Yields-10-12 cookies (depending on the ice cream scoop you use)
2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
4 ounces Butter, unsalted and soft
1 cup Sweet Potato Puree (yes, you can use the stuff from the can, but if you can go the extra mile and make some fresh Puree from Louisiana Sweet Potatoes you will be glad you did!)
1 egg
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

In a bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set to the side. In the bowl of a standing mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy and light in color. Add the egg, then the vanilla. Add the sweet potato puree and then add the flour mixture, mixing on a low speed so as not to overwork your batter.

This dough will be slightly sticky...don't worry, you are looking for a soft cookie/cake result.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and using an ice cream scoop portion out the dough, leaving 1/2 inches between the cookies. Refrigerate the portioned dough, sheet pan and all, for at least one hour, over night is better.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time. You are looking for a cookie/cake that is just firm to the touch when finished. Allow to cool and fill with whatever you like, sandwiching two halves together right before serving.

Ideas;
-I served the Whoopie Pies filled with Whipped Chocolate Ganache on Tuesday, you could also fill with...
-Cream Cheese Frosting
-Plain ole Whipped Cream
-Pastry Cream
-Any kind of Citrus curd

Get Cooking!

Green Plate Special Menu for Tuesday, October 21!

This week I am so excited to have a really comforting, locally sourced menu for the Crescent City Farmers Market "Green Plate Special". Stop on by and grab some grub! See you at the Market!

Green Plate Special Menu
Tuesday, October 21st
2008

Louisiana Shitake and Wild Rice Soup with Fresh Thyme
*
Louisiana Green Bean and Black Eyed Pea Salad with fresh Parsley, Pickled Red Onions, and Creole Mustard Vinaigrette
*
Meat Loaf Sandwiches with House Made Curried Ketchup on toasted, Buttered Brioche
*
LA Sweet Potato and Cinnamon Whoopie Pies filled with Chocolate Frosting

"THE" Wedding Cake...

Lauren (the bride) and I have been talking for almost 3 years about her wedding and more importantly her wedding cake. Lauren, from New Orleans originally, currently resides in New York City working for one of the best wedding magazines (actually THE best wedding magazine...in my humble opinion) around! So when she contacted me a few years back, I was thrilled, flattered and ready to get baking.

She and her groom, Tim, decided on a Louisiana Satsuma Chiffon Cake layered with Louisiana Meyer Lemon Curd, Louisiana Satsuma Curd and Louisiana Grapefruit Curd, swathed in Vanilla Bean Butter Cream and then tastefully garnished with Sugared Citrus Leaves, Whole Candied Kumquats and strips of Candied Citrus Zests.


It was a long time in the planning, but the cake (baked on Friday), soaked with Satsuma Simple Syrup, crumb-coated on Saturday morning and then finished right before delivery really came together.

The cakes were made from almost all local ingredients, Butter, Milk and Heavy Cream from Smith Creamery, fresh Yard Eggs from the Core Family, Nick at "Grow" farm, and the Fonseca Family and organic Citrus from the L'hoste Family. Above you will see how the cake looked as separate tiers and below the finished cake!

Sitting on a French Ivory Cake Stand and placed in the doorway on an antique table it could not have been more beautiful. The wedding was held at Cafe Amelie, a gem of a restaurant...and the site of my beautiful wedding as well, in the heart of the French Quarter. Also known as the Princess of Monaco Courtyard the gardens and fountains inside are a beautiful contrast to the somewhat crowded, dingy streets that lay outside the gates. The courtyard itself with its brick walls, lush foliage and cast iron fountains are really quite a sight. If you live here, go eat and enjoy Chef Jerry's twists on Southern cuisine and if you visit please do the same. Their signature cocktail, the Amelie, is a twist on the Mojito made with Vodka instead of Rum, fresh Lime Juice, Mint and Club Soda. Just ask my momma...its not to be missed.

Lauren had her friend, an obvious talent, design and hand make her wedding toppers. The couple was a beautiful finishing touch floating on Butter Cream with the Sugared Citrus Leaves and Candied Kumquats at their delicately painted feet.

For Tim, I made three small Gateau's de Sirop...a traditional Creole Cake made from Steen's Cane Syrup and bathed in dark El Ray Chocolate Ganache. Each cake was layered with whipped Chocolate Ganache and one was prickled with toasted Almonds to break up the shine factor.

A beautiful setting, a beautiful couple and a beautiful cake...if I do say so myself. You can't ask for more. Congratulations Lauren and Tim!

A day at the Market...

I have had such a great time hosting the "Green Plate Special" at the Crescent City Farmers Market for the past few weeks. The weather has been a little bit more temperamental (meaning rainy, hot and humid) than I was expecting but my faithful clients and good friends have been more than supportive. The food has been well received and I am doing my best not to run out of all the goodies we have been dishing up!


Our farmers are reaching the heights of one the most productive seasons that we have here in Louisiana. The produce at the market has been out of control, in flavor and in beauty and I appreciate our year-long growing season with every bite I take! Coming into season right now is Okra, Green Beans, Eggplant (both traditional globe/Italian & Japanese), Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Mizuna, Cucumbers, Green Onions, Yellow Squash, Green Peppers, & Zucchini. Mississippi is also in full Apple harvest mode and we still have our beautiful Creole Tomatoes since the weather has been holding hot and steady!


The Cucumbers lend themselves beautifully to all manners of salads but I've got pickles on the brain. I will share my pickle pictures and recipes in a future post, but for now I am concentrating on getting myself ready for a big, beautiful wedding cake and need to focus on Butter Cream, Cake Batter and Candied Citrus!


Our chalk board sign has been helping those of you who have been out to the Market decide which of our offerings you will enjoy! A big thank you to everyone that came out to the Farmers Market for the past two weeks, not only to support me while I melted under the Green Plate Special Tent, but also for supporting our local farmers and fishers! Hope to see you at the Market on Tuesday!

Bama Bag!

There really isn't anything like coming home to presents! Today my honey surprised me with my very own "Obama Baggu". Since I shop for at least two clients a day I am always collecting more reusable grocery totes to fill with groceries for other people. I long since gave up plastic bags and try to avoid the paper bags...using them only when I forget to take the clean ones out of the dryer and put them back in the car.

The Obama Baggu bags are being printed in very limited supply, 250 of each color, and all the sales directly benefit the Obama/Biden campaign. You can get your own "Bama Bag" at http://obamabaggu.myshopify.com/ but you better hurry. The chocolate colored bag is already sold out!

My "Bama Bag" patiently waits for tomorrows groceries! Did I mention that these bags are made of ripstop nylon, hold up to 25 pounds and can carry the contents of 2-3 grocery bags?!

Shake the Soy!

Not much of a post here just an experience that I need to get off my chest.

There are few things that make my day a little bit easier...a cool breeze when I step outside, dogs that come back inside when called, and a good cup of coffee. My favorite is an Iced Coffee with Soy Milk. Its not much, but it really does serve as the perfect start to the day as well as the ideal mid-afternoon pickup. So I was visiting my local coffee shop today and when I very politely (and with a smile) asked the Barista to please shake the Soy Milk, she flippantly gave the box a soft jiggle and slid my coffee across the counter.

Am I asking too much? Really...there isn't anything worse than a chunky coffee and I just don't understand how my meager request could result in such a sassed response. I have worked in a coffee shop before (a Starbucks no less) and I have seen it all. From the most ridiculously complicated orders to the most mundane requests I'm sure I rolled my eyes on more than one occasion, but I always shook the soy milk!

It's awt for gawd's sake...

Art for Art's Sake is this coming Saturday! This fundraiser supports the Contemporary Art Center, takes place at the beginning of the fall every year and this year is even more special since "Art for Art's Sake is celebrating its 30th birthday. It has become a city wide event that has locals and tourists alike walking all over the city from the French Quarter, to the Warehouse District and down Magazine Street. Boutique shops, art galleries, jewelers, and antique shops will keep their doors open late to encourage "go-cup" fisted buyers to pull out their wallets and reveal new fall collections.

The Julia Street block party starts at 6:00 pm and the CAC opens its doors (for a $10.00 cover) at the same time for an art installation, food and live music. Canary Collective will also be hosting a show (this one free) at 329 Julia Street from 6-9.

On Magazine Street I am already looking forward to visiting my friends over at Perch, Katy Beh Contemporary Jewelery, House of Lounge, Aidan Gill, Juliet Interiors, Hazelnut, and my most favorite jeweler in the world...Gogo!

Gogo is doing it up as she debuts her new space at 4222 Magazine Street, just a few steps down from her previous store. Enjoy Cupcakes, Champagne and music provided by Dubla. Dubla Music will be spinning to set the mood for the new store. Shout out to my girl Niki who will be making her jewelery debut alongside a few other jewelers that Gogo has decided needed a little "Crescent City" representation.

I hope everyone gets their chic strut on this Saturday, enjoy the weather, a cold drink and help support our local merchants!

nola bean at the Crescent City Farmers Market!

Actually, nola bean will be at the Crescent City Farmers Market every Tuesday in October! Every month the Farmers Market invites a local New Orleans Chef or Restaurant and they prepare a new menu every week with their inspiration being the goods of the CCFM Vendors.

I really look forward to this every year and this will be my third appearance under the Green Plate Special Tent. Take a look at the menus below and I will be doing my best to document my time at the market through the month, as well as providing you with the recipes to go along with them.

Green Plate Special Menu

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Creamy Garlic Soup
*
Roast Sweet Potato & Black Eyed Pea Salad with fresh Spinach and a Roasted Red Pepper and fresh Thyme Vinaigrette (Vegan!)
*
Open faced Mustard braised Pork Shoulder Sandwiches on grilled Chibatta with Collard Green Slaw and Pickled Red Onions
*
Caramelized Mississippi Apple Cheesecake with a Gingersnap Crust

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
*
Roast Tomato Bisque (Vegan!)
*
Mixed Greens Salad with Balsamic Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette and Candied Pecans
*
Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwiches served with Creole Mustard on Buttered Brioche
*
Sweet Potato Shortcakes with Sugar Macerated Muscadines and Smith Dairy Whipped Cream

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Creamy Wild Rice and Louisiana Shitake Mushroom Bisque
*
Spinach Salad with toasted Pumpkin Seeds and a Fuju Persimmon Vinaigrette (Vegan!)
*
Pitts Farms Meatloaf Sandwiches with Curried Ketchup and fresh Arugula
*
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies filled with Apple Butter and Cream Cheese Frosting

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Butternut Squash and Cilantro Bisque (Vegan!)
*
Pad Thai Rice Noodle Salad (Vegan!) (most of the ingredients in this salad will be from the market)
*
Green Curry Chicken over Brown Louisiana Popcorn Rice
*
Chocolate and Green Tea Pudding (Vegan!)