Flat Stanley got to play bingo at the annual family Christmas party yesterday evening. Everyone won something and as usual there was lots of great food … Hawaiian style.
Melanie and I visited Barry Bannister last night for dinner. He treated us to a wonderful cajun dinner starting with salad sprinkled with a kicky dressing, then a main course of jambalaya followed by a boosted version of Bananas Foster. Barry’s a wonderful chef and host!
Barry shared his recipies with us:
Shake in shaker or glass jar:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 T whole grain Mustard
1 glove crushed garlic
1 t Cajun seasoning
3 shakes of Tabasco sauce
Pour over the salad. Add more vinegar and extra virgin olive, gradually, to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
(From The New Orleans School of Cooking)
1/4 cup oil (lard, bacon drippings)
1/2 lb. Cajun sausage
1/2 lb. Boneless chicken
2 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic
2 cups long grain rice
8 oz tomato juice
16 oz canned chicken broth
1 heaping tsp. Cajun seasoning (e.g. Joe’s Stuff, Essence of Emeril)
1 tsp paprika
1 cup chopped green onion
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
Season and brown chicken in oil over med-high heat. Add sausage to pot and saute with chicken. Remove both from the pot. Add onions, celery, green pepper and garlic to the pan and saute to the tenderness that you desire. Return chicken and sausage to the pot. Add tomato juice, broth, paprika. and Cajun seasoning and bring to a boil. Add the raw rice and return to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for a total 25 minutes. After 10 minutes of cooking remove cover and quickly turn rice from the bottom to the top. If desired, add raw shrimp, canned crab, or other seafood after 20 minutes and return the lid. Add the green onions and chopped tomato at the end.
NOTES:
1 cup rice to 1 cup onion, 1/2 celery, 1/2 cup green peppers
1 cup raw rice to 11/4 cups liquid
Over season to compensate for the rice
Cook for a total of 25 minutes, turning completely after 10 minutes
Serves 6 people
We started our eve by going to Marcus and Ann’s home in Palolo where we feasted on a lavish spread of local favorites. Carli entertained all of us on ukulele. Nui, the youngest wanted to play with Cupie who needed most of the evening to stop being afraid. Hone and Pono chilled. Alan Yamamoto also had dinner with us but he left early on.
On New Year’s day we went to Waipahu and dined on osechi ryori from Nijiya Market.
In the afternoon we went to Karen’s home in Nuuanu and stayed for most of the evening eating more and drinking several bottles of wine. Chuck and Becky share their aloha and wine with us, too.
We had dinner in Waipahu on Sunday, June 29. The best lumpia in Hawaii by Linda Rosario and take-out from Little Village Noodle House. Even the dogs had some chicken wings!