Destinations Diva

The most common misconception of Creole and Cajun cuisine is that these two unique styles are interchangeable. While there is crossover in ingredients and technique, the two cuisines are distinct. The best way to understand those differences is to know a little bit about the colonial history of Louisiana… Louisiana started as a dream of the French to dominate the interior of North America. The territory was claimed in 1682 when the French explorer Rene-Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle sailed down the Mississippi River with a band of Canadians and Native Americans and named the area at the mouth of the river, Louisiane, in honor of King Louis XIV. In 1718 La Nouvelle-Orleans , La Salle’s dream city at the mouth of the river, was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the governor of French Louisiana. NATIVE AMERICAN IMPACT ON COLONIAL FRENCH COOKERY Local tribes bartered with colonial French settlers for European trade goods and introduced the French to locally ...

Catfish Courtbouillon Also called Couvillon (Coo-vee-yohn) or Coubion (Coo-bee-yohn) Ingredients: 1/4 cup oil (I use extra virgin olive oil) 1/2 stick butter 1 onion, diced 3 ribs celery with leaves, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 4 cloves of garlic, chopped 1/4-1/3 cup flour 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup wine 2 16 oz. can crushed tomatoes 1 cup seafood stock, chicken stock or water* 1 tsp Cajun/Creole seasoning** 1/2 tsp. dried thyme 2 pounds catfish filets or white firm fish, cut in large chunks (I like to use deboned fish-do not use oily fish such as salmon) Optional:  Shrimp or Crawfish To make Courtbouillon : In a large heavy pot, heat 1/4 cup oil and add onion, celery and bell pepper and cook for one minute.  Add garlic and cook another one or two minutes.   Add 1/4 stick butter. When melted, add the flour and stir.  Cook about 2-3 minutes and then slowly add the milk.  Stir until very thick.   Add the wine and stir. Add ...

I'm on my slowly progressing weight loss journey in my effort to improve my feet.  My stress weight  gain has impacted my feet which have some bone deformities.  So my best option to lose weight is with a healthy diet.   However, I love food!  I love just about every type of regional cuisine and Asian flavors are among my favorites.  Being from south Louisiana, I'm also a "Rice-a-holic!"  I love fried rice and frequently make it using the leftovers in my fridge.   When I discovered someone's brilliant idea to substitute cauliflower for rice, I wasn't a believer (I don't think I'd put cauliflower in gumbo).  But the flavor of cauliflower goes incredibly well with the Asian flavors in this dish.  Feel free to add any vegetables that you like, such as broccoli, bell pepper and asparagus.  It would also be great as a vegetarian dish! Cauliflower and Chicken Fried "Rice" Prep: 0:30, Cook: 0:15 Serves: ...

Each year during the Lenten season, after Mardi Gras and before Easter, Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays.  If you live in Louisiana, we don't suffer at all because it's also crawfish season and we have so many other wonderful choices of Louisiana seafood.  However, sometimes I like to go back to the basics.  Lent mean--it's time for tuna!  My Cajun mom alway made tuna the same way, with boiled eggs  (always use one boiled egg per can of tuna), celery and pickle to distract from the fishy tuna flavor and mayonnaise for creaminess.  We always serve it with saltine crackers but I enjoy plating atop a green salad with fresh (and not refrigerated) tomato wedges.  My mom always made Good Seasons Italian Dressing using the dry mix but she had a trick.  She always filled the cruet above the V line to the W line with vinegar.  Then she added a little water and the normal amount of oil.  This kind of dressing goes perfectly with ...

One of my favorite lunches out has always been the "all you can eat" soup, salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden.  As long as I got a second helping of salad, I would delude myself into thinking that I was eating healthy.  In actuality, Zuppa Toscana or their Tuscan Soup is full of heavy ingredients including bacon, heavy cream, white potatoes, parmesan cheese and pork Italian sausage.  The one healthy part of this soup was the fresh kale and that's the good news.  The freshness of the kale was one of my favorite parts of the soup!  It adds texture to the heavy soup. So how would one lighten up this soup?  One word--cauliflower!  By substituting cauliflower for most of the potatoes in the soup, the health benefits are greatly increased (I still add one small russet potato for the starchy quality).   The next substitution is using fat free evaporated  milk instead of the heavy cream.  Since the traditional soup is a thin ...

The village of Breckenridge is one of the most unique places in the world.  This small, historic skiing village is flanked by gorgeous white topped mountain views from the east and fantastic snow ski trails on the western side.  You can actually stand in any location, facing any direction and have incredible views of majestic mountains.   What makes Breckenridge different from other ski destinations is the historic charm of the village.  A vital downtown district is home to incredible dining at all levels, arts, pubs, entertainment and more.  You won't find fast food or chain restaurants (except for Starbucks) in this quaint town.  Of course, modern times are encroaching with the opening of several cannabis shops.  These shops, however, are not on the main drag, rather they are located further out on Airport road in a more industrial area. Embarking on a ski vacation can be quite expensive when considering flight from Denver International Airport...

The village of Breckenridge has long been a favorite spot in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for snow skiing and winter sports.  The laid back atmosphere and quaint historic district draws visitors looking for an authentic Colorado mountain town experience and a break from fast food joints and chain restaurants.  The numerous ski trails provide an experience for all levels of skiers from beginners to advanced.  The high elevation and the beautiful scenery provides a tranquil spot to relax in summer and is a popular spot for hiking and mountain biking. There is even a line of stores on Airport Road featuring different varieties of Cannabis for those who'd like to indulge (legal in Colorado). However, the cost of a ski vacation can be quite daunting when you factor in flights, lodging, ski equipment rental and lift tickets.  But don't despair.  Here are three FREE activities to do while in Breckenridge. 1.  Free tastings and tours at Breckenridge Dist...