about

Welcome to my kitchen!  I'm Louanne, wife to Brett, mom to Andrew, a librarian by day, and a wanna-be chef at home.

The kitchen is my favorite place to be in our house.  It's the gathering spot for my family and friends.  It's my fortress of solitude when I need to think and destress.

My kitchen is also where the magic happens!  Some of the recipes you'll find here are adaptations of published recipes from cookbooks, magazines, etc.  More often than not, however, the food is my own, based on culinary memories from my childhood from which I've created a recipe to share with family, friends, and you, a welcome guest in my kitchen.  So, please, stay for a visit, share your thoughts, and enjoy the food.



This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact Louanne at louanne23@bellsouth.net

recipe index

appetizers

artichoke, feta and lemon fritters

better than cheddar, my way

cheese palmiers

cheese truffles

chicken enchilada nachos

corn and crawfish dip

cranberry-hot pepper jelly

creamy roquefort & pecan dip

easy cheesy potato skins

grape tomato, caramelized onion and feta tart

hummus

jalapeno hummus

jalapeno poppers

marinated cream cheese

muffaletta focaccia

pissaldiere aka provencal pizza

red lentil balls

roasted chickpeas

rosemary roasted cashews

spanakopita squares (spinach)
spanakopita II (swiss chard)

spicy spinach squares

spinach and artichoke dip

spinach balls

sugar and spice roasted pecans

tomato bruschetta

tzatziki

world champion artichoke dip

breakfast

apple-smoked bacon and cheddar scones

breakfast casserole

buttermilk biscuits

cheesey sausage & broccoli quiche

oat and cranberry slice

spicy spinach squares

coffee cakes and quick breads

chocolate loaf

blackberry cornbread muffins

cinnamon sugar donut muffin

cinnamon-sour cream streusel loaf

cranberry cake

dressed-up carrot cake muffins

eggnog coffee cake

gingerbread

jalapeno cornbread

lime glazed banana bread

poppy seed cake with lemon syrup

raspberry muffins with buttery streusel

really good blueberry coffee cake

strawberry bread with cream cheese & Nutella swirl

summer berry torte

ultimate banana muffins

desserts (bars and brownies)

7-layer bars with a twist
almond espresso brownies 

brownies

espresso brownies

festive oat & candy cookie bars

fudgey chocolate bars

heavenly hash brownies

magic brownie bars

peanut butter and jelly bars

peanut butter cookie bars

pecan custard squares

raspberry and pecan crumble bars

pumpkin cheesecake bars

strawberry bars

turtle cheesecake bars

white chocolate cherry macaroon bars

desserts (cakes and cupcakes)

banana bundt cake with peanut butter buttercream

cajun cake

caramel apple cake

chocolate cupcakes with buttercream icing

chocolate marshmallow cake

chocolate pound cake

chocolate pudding cake

Christmas cake

cinnamon roll cake

coconut pound cake

cranberry apple cake

deeply chocolate chocolate cake

Easter cupcakes
Easter cupcakes II

fudgy chocolate bundt cake

fuzzy navel cake

halloween doberge cake

holy cow cake

hummingbird cake

just peachy coffee cake

King Cake with strawberry & cream cheese

mini chocolate cupcakes

mocha ripple butter cake with orange essence

nutty pumpkin bundt cake with cranberries

orange pound cake

oreo cheesecake cupcakes

pecan pie cake

pineapple upside down cake

pound cake

pumpkin pie crumble cake

rainbow cake

smith island cake

strawberry banana daiquiri cake

desserts (cookies)

brownie button bites

cherry balls

cherry pecan chews

chocolate chewies

chocolate chip cookies

chocolate lovers chocolate cookies

chocolate pecan chewies

Christmas amaretti

coconut macaroons

cranberry orange oatmeal cookies

cuccidati - Sicilian Fig Cookies

Easter amaretti

empire biscuits

french macarons

fruitcake cookies

Grandma Josie's chocolate spice cookies, revised

orange-date-nut shortbread

peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

pecan strips

puff pastry pinwheel cookies

s'mores truffles

symphony bar milk chocolate cookies

white chocolate strawberry cookies

desserts (cheesecakes, pastries, and pies)

apple crisp

banana split pie

berry crisp

cannoli cups

chocolate pudding pie

cinnamon mocha pie with orange-essence whipped cream
java cheesecake brownie pie

kouign amann

lemon pie

mixed berry crisp

pecan kringle

pineapple pie

pumpkin pie bites

raspberry cream cheese pastry

raspberry cream cheese pastry

sweet potato pie

triple berry galette

triple chocolate chunk bread pudding with whiskey sauce
turtle cheesecake bars

desserts (candy, frozen yummies, and misc)

chocolate and toffee chip frozen yogurt

chocolate, caramel, and pecan dipped apples
heavenly hash aka rocky road fudge
milky way fudge

nut brittle

nutty chocolate cranberry clusters

penuche, aka brown sugar fudge
creole pralines

pralines

donuts

sfinges-Sicilian donuts

gluten-free 
almond espresso brownies
apple crisp
better than cheddar, my way

broccoli soup

caramelized acorn squash

cheese truffles

chicken curry

chocolate pecan chewies

chocolate, caramel, and pecan dipped apples

Christmas amaretti

coconut macaroons

corn and crawfish dip

cranberry orange oatmeal cookies

cranberry-hot pepper jelly
crawfish and shrimp etouffee

creamy curried pumpkin soup

creamy tomato-basil soup

creole jambalaya
creole pralines

crispy roasted garlic potatoes

curried coconut cauliflower soup

Easter amaretti

easy cheesy potato skins

eggplant curry

enchilada soup

fruit salad

glazed corned beef brisket

grapefruit, avocado and red onion salad with lime vinaigrette

Greek village salad

green beans and fingerling potatoes

grilled eggplant salad

haricot vert with tomatoes

hash browns

heavenly hash aka rocky road fudge
hummus

jalapeno hummus

jalapeno poppers

kheema bhurjee

lentil vegetable soup

loaded cauliflower casserole
Louisiana mirliton casserole

marinara sauce

marinated cream cheese

marinated zucchini with mint
milky way fudge

mirliton casserole

New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp

noodles with spicy peanut sauce

nut brittle

nutty chocolate cranberry clusters

okra and onion saute

penuche, aka brown sugar fudge

pot roast

potato salad

pralines

puy lentil salad with caramelized vegetables

red bean and rice salad

red beans and rice, New Orleans-style

red lentil and coconut milk soup

rice salad

roasted brussels sprouts

roasted cauliflower

roasted chickpeas

roasted ratatouille

rosemary roasted cashews

sauteed kale with garlic

simply roasted chicken

smashed and roasted potatoes

smothered cabbage and apples

spicy eggplant curry

spicy smothered cabbage

spinach and artichoke dip

spinach salad

stuffed peppers

stuffed portabello mushrooms

sugar and spice roasted pecans

szechaun noodles

tomato-orange soup

tuna salad

turtle cheesecake bars

tzatziki

vinaigrette

white bean salad

world champion artichoke dip

zucchini gratin

main dishes
beefy enchilada stuffed peppers
brisket with onion gravy

bronzed catfish
cheesey chicken enchiladas

chicken curry
chicken fajita stuffed poblano peppers

chicken gumbo

chicken gyros with tahini sauce
chicken poblano enchiladas

chicken satay with coconut rice

chicken tikka masala

cicken and artichoke pasta

chicken piccata
crawfish and shrimp etouffee

creamy pasta primavera

creole jambalaya

dirty rice
eggplant pasta puttanesca

eggplant pizza

glazed corned beef brisket

grilled eggplant, onion, and red pepper stuffed bread
grilled rib-eye steak

grits & grillades

Jucy Lucy Burgers

kheema bhurjee

marinara sauce

marinated & broiled skirt steak

meatloaf

meatloaf, my ultimate

New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp

noodles with spicy peanut sauce

paneed chicken tenders

paneed round steak with everyday marinara

pasta bake aka fauxsagna

pasta milanese

pot roast

pressed cuban-style burger

ragu

red beans and rice, New Orleans-style

seafood gumbo

shredded beef

shrimp etouffee

shrimp radiatore

sicilian sliders

simply roasted chicken

spicy catfish curry

spicy eggplant curry

St. Louis-style pizza

mediterranean hamburger with fresh mozzarella

sticky chicken
sticky spicy BBQ spareribs

stuffed pasta shells

stuffed peppers

sweet chili sauce-glazed chicken tenders

sweet & spicy salmon

szechaun noodles

tequila lime chicken

tomato gravy

under pressure beef stew

salads

barley salad
fruit salad

grapefruit, avocado and red onion salad with lime vinaigrette

Greek village salad

grilled eggplant salad

pesto, peas, and pasta salad

potato salad

puy lentil salad with caramelized vegetables
quinoa salad

red bean and rice salad

rice salad
roasted beet salad

spinach salad

tabbouleh

thai slaw

tuna salad

vinaigrette

white bean salad

side dishes

cornbread dressing

caramelized acorn squash

creamy zucchini casserole

crispy roasted garlic potatoes

eggplant curry

eggplant romano

fried cabbage patties

green bean and artichoke casserole

green beans and fingerling potatoes

haricot vert with tomatoes

hash browns

lemon pepper panko crusted cauliflower

loaded cauliflower casserole
Louisiana mirliton casserole

macaroni & cheese

macaroni and cheese

marinated zucchini with mint

mirliton casserole

New Orleans-style stuffed artichokes

okra and onion saute

panko-crusted fried eggplant

pasta aglio e olio (pasta with olive oil and garlic)

pasta with sun-dried tomatoes

roasted brussels sprouts

roasted cauliflower

roasted ratatouille

sauteed kale with garlic

smashed and roasted potatoes

smothered cabbage and apples

spicy garlic and ginger eggplant

spicy smothered cabbage

stuffed portabello mushrooms
tatsoi (garlicky)

zucchini gratin

soups

broccoli soup

butternut squash, kale, & Italian sausage soup

chicken noodle soup

creamy curried pumpkin soup

creamy tomato-basil soup

curried coconut cauliflower soup

enchilada soup

hearty beef & vegetable soup

lemon pepper panko crusted cauliflower

lentil vegetable soup

red lentil and coconut milk soup

tomato-orange soup

yeast breads

big & chewy soft pretzels
crusty rolls

easy cheesey no-knead-y flatbread

flatbread

lazy day pizza

lepinja

loggia bread

pita

potato rolls

sfinciuni

stromboli

Louanne's kitchen essentials

Parchment sheets - buy them in bulk, you'll use them for everything you put in the oven.

My secret weapon in baked goods.  Wait, I guess it's not a secret anymore....no matter, everyone should have this in their pantry.

Steamer bags - I love these things, there is no clean-up!  How good is that?

This rolling pin, which could possibly be used to play baseball.

Half-sheet baking pans from Sam's - inexpensive and sturdy.

My absolute favorite skillet, hands down.

Le Creuset cookware resulted from divine inspiration, I've no doubt.  This dutch oven and this one, too, there's nothing they can't do.  Yes, they are expensive, but I'm sure I'll be passing these on to my future daughter-in-law.  Did I mention my son is only 5 years old?