The Casual Cajun
This party was inspired by a trip we took to New Orleans. One of our friends took us to the great old establishment, and we mean old - building circa 1700’s and although we didn't eat there, we enjoyed the ambiance and the Hurricanes. This party is best at night and best suited for adults. We set the tables in black and used accents of purple, gold, green and magenta - like the mardi gras beads New Orleans is famous for. We turned the lights down real low, lit a bunch of candles and offered our friends and family southern cooking and beverages. So put on the jazz and blues music, light the candles, don a mask if you dare and don't forget to leave room for dessert; the Peach Bread Pudding with Southern Comfort Cream and Caramel Whisky Sauce is worth the indulgence!
We have provided you with our party menu and a sample recipe below; Dirty Rice with Chicken, so you have a better idea of what the recipes are like. Try it out on us, if you like it download the entire party or purchase the Carefree Gourmet Buffets book.
The Casual Cajun Menu
- Jalapeno Popovers (purchase)
- Olive Tapenade (purchase)
- Assorted Breads (purchase)
- Assorted Sausages (purchase)
- Marinated Shrimp (recipe)
- “Grilled” Artichokes With Aioli Sauce (recipe)
- Dirty Rice (purchase)
- Mango Relish (recipe)
- Pound Cake with Fresh Fruit (purchase)
- Bread Pudding with Whisky Sauce (recipe)
- Bloody Mary’s (recipe)
- Hurricanes (recipe)
- Assorted Beers
- Lemonade with Strawberries
- Soft Drinks
- Southern Pecan Coffee
Free Recipe
Dirty Rice with Chicken
Number of Servings: 12
Serving Dishes: Casserole
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Can You Double: Already doubled
Can You Freeze: No
- 2 boxes of Zatarain’s Dirty Rice
- 4 Tbl vegetable oil
- 2 lbs ground chicken
- 1/2 c finely diced red and or green bell peppers
- 5 c water
We adapted a box recipe for this dish. If you cannot find the Zatarain brand, look for other packaged rice kits from another maker. Be aware that packaged foods can be salty; adjust seasoning as needed. Lightly brown the ground chicken. In a large (5 qt) sauce pan or stock pot, combine water and oil; bring to a boil. Add Zatarain's rice mix and chicken, return to a boil. Reduce heat, stir, cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Add diced bell peppers and continue cooking for another 5 - 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes and fluff with a fork.