Little did I know that when my daughter Maggie and I conceived the idea for a cooking blog 4 years ago that it would take me on such an incredible journey. Sur le Plat has reunited me with friends locally, across the country, and around the world. The blog has introduced me to new acquaintances […]
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A Crawfish Tale
Tis’ the season for the long standing family tradition of boiling and eating crawfish in Louisiana. As I walk through my neighborhood on the weekends, the aroma of spicy boiled crawfish tickles my nose as families and friends gather in back yards and porches for a crawfish boil. Here is our family recipe for boiled […]
Stay at Home Valentine’s Day Dinner
If you are thinking of a cozy night at home rather than a night out for Valentine’s Day, here are some of my top picks. No reservations are necessary for a romantic stay-at-home dinner! Think of starting with a soup, especially this rich and creamy Balthazar’s mushroom soup. Serving a first course helps to set […]
Thanksgiving Reinvented, 2021
I perused my recipe archives to create a new look and reinvent some of the traditions of Thanksgiving dinner for the “new normal.” Last year I shared my favorite recipes for the holiday based on time-honored family traditions that have been repeated and are expected year after year. Stuffed mirlitons, oysters Mosca, and cajun roasted […]
How Many Ways Can I Say I Love You this Valentine’s Day?
I learned early on in my life that one of the many ways to express my love for others was through food. I observed my grandmothers, my mother, and my aunts making life just a little more tolerable during trying times with edible gifts. Perhaps it was making a favorite meal or cake for a […]
Best of Sur le Plat Recipes 2020
After this challenging year filled with so much uncertainty and anxiety, we are all hoping that 2021 brings with it an abundance and infusion of fresh energy to our kitchens and renewal of our spirit. It is always fun to look back at the recipes that appealed to my loyal followers. In addition to posting […]
Jolly Holiday Edible Food Gifts
Since we don’t plan on entertaining much during this COVID holiday season, curbside delivery or mailing edible food gifts are the best way to express our love to family, friends, and neighbors. My friends and I have practiced edible gift-giving for years and refer to these gifts as consumables. “No gifts please, we don’t need […]
Giving Thanks for Family Traditions
Thanksgiving conjures many positive memories for me of family and friends, seductive aromas and upholding time tested and honored traditions in the kitchen. My earliest memories are of gathering at my grandparent’s home for the Thanksgiving holiday. I fondly recall the rush of aunts, uncles, and cousins tumbling into my grandmother’s home, shedding coats and […]
My Favorite Fall Recipes
I’m excited to share some of my favorite fall recipes with you. Southeast Louisiana does not enjoy the four seasons as do many other parts of the country. We are accustomed to 1 1/2 – 2 seasons with prolonged, hot, and humid summers and short, cold, and damp bone chilling winters. Spring and fall are […]
My Favorite Fourth of July Recipes
The temperatures are soaring and it is sizzling hot. I’m sharing my favorite Fourth of July recipes. What do you think of cooking at this time of the year to spice up your Fourth of July? I certainly do not want to turn on the oven or heat up the kitchen. Here are some of […]
“L’apero,” Aperitifs, an Old New Cocktail Experience
Happy hour in France and in other countries in Europe is a tradition that is a time honored ritual. Affectionately called “l’apero,” it is a shortened term for aperitifs, or as we know it, happy hour. L’apero is a sacred time of the day. It is a time to gather with friends as the sunlight […]
Spice up your Life: My Essential Herbs and Spices
If you clean out and reorganize your spice rack as intermittently as I do, it can be like taking a trip back in time and around the world. Sorting through my spice collection triggered my imagination evoking memories of bustling and exotic markets and unforgettable meals. I discovered smoked paprika from La Boqueria Market in […]