Fresh Fruit Tarts

I love fresh berries! So when a catering order came in that wanted a smashing treat to finish their meal, fruit tarts sprang immediately to my mind.  This is so easy to do, but can take a little time in the preparation.  Purchase small ready made pie shells and blind bake them.  Brush the inside with a little dark chocolate or even white chocolate if you prefer.  Fill the cavity with sweetened cream cheese and arrange fruit on top.  For the finishing touch brush the fruit with some melted apple jelly.  This adds a bit more sweetness, binds the fruit for stability and adds a nice eye appealing glazed look.  

The Production Line

Food is Life, Love and Art
Christopher 
Cajun Cleaver

The Finale Product

How Two Fat Ladies Changed My Life

It sounds silly I'm sure to all of you who read this, but it is the truth.  I knew nothing about this English cooking duo until just a few years ago.  I was working at a popular chain restaurant and going no where.  I saw a short clip of the show on You-Tube and fell in love.  After purchasing the complete show and watching these two amazing ladies in action my life changed.  I like so many others lacked any hope I could be something more than I was at the time.  Then I read how these two flat broke and self taught cooks beat all the odds and became international stars.  From that point I have taken every chance I could find to grow and reach for the best in myself.  I post this tribute to the "Ladies" who changed my life and shamelessly ask for you all to follow my work and blog.

Jennifer and Clarissa Two Fat Ladies  

Food is Life, Love and Art

Christopher

cajuncleaver.blogspot.com

Beer Can Chickens and College Football

Its that time of year once again when millions of Americans will put on their war paint, gather at the tailgate party to eat and drink before the game.  While burgers, wings and hot dogs are still the main staples of any good tailgater. Such culinary twists as the Beer Can Chicken are gaining in popularity. Resting on its can in the grill or oven any chicken turns out well, but slow smoked and the chicken will all but crow!  This bird here got the full treatment at my work the Cajun Cleaver.  Resting on a can of Good People Bearded Lady Wheat Ale and dusted all over with our house seasoning, each chicken was slow smoked to really draw in all the flavor the beer had to offer.  The end result was a moist and smoking bird busting out with subtle flavors.

Beer Can Chicken

Food is Life, Love and Art

Christopher

Cajun Cleaver

Fresh Crab Cakes a Cajun Cleaver Customer Favortie

Crab Cakes are a wonderful and versatile entree item any time of the year.  On a bun, over pasta or just on center of the plate, these delicious and golden patties are a crowd pleaser.  At the Cajun Cleaver we only use fresh lump crab meat blended with ingredients intended to really let that fresh crab flavor stand out.  The most often question we get is how to prepare them.  Oven baking works, grilling can be done, but the best result is achieved by pan frying in a combination of olive oil and butter.

Golden Pan Fried Crab Cakes

Food is Life, Love and Art

Christopher 

Cajun Cleaver 

Healthy Living Can Include Mayonnaise

Its true!  Mayonnaise can be good for you!  The trick is you MUST make it yourself.  Sounds daunting I know, but it is in fact very easy.  Thanks to such kitchen aids as the food processor and immersion blender making mayo is quick, affordable and good for you.  How is it good for me you ask?  First it is mostly made of olive oil and fresh eggs.  In both cases use the highest quality and freshest you can find.  Real mayo is higher in Omega-3, has a higher vitamin content and when using the whole egg provides vitamin B and protein.  So now lets talk preparation.

4 Whole Eggs  Organic best and at room temperature.  Try Duck eggs for added health benefits
2 Tablespoons Dry Mustard
1 Lemon Squeezed for Juice
5 Cups Olive Oil  Mild Olive Oil is best for flavor

Place eggs, mustard and juice into the blender and hit high speed.  Let this whip a minute to incorporate a little air in and then add olive oil in a steady stream.  Its recommended you use a squeeze bottle to get that small steady stream.  Keep adding till all oil is added and a creamy texture achieved, about 5 minutes total time.  Then add salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.  Refrigerate and hold up to30 days.

Food is Love, Life and Art
Christopher

Diabetic Friendly Cooking with the Grill

Being a diabetic presents some real challenges when one is a carbohydrate junky, as I am. Working vegetables into my diet has not been easy.  My first method of preparation was to cover what ever vegetable I was trying to eat, with large quantities of cheese.  This of course did little to help with the blood sugar problem, but well it was a beginning right?  As my culinary training expanded I have found vegetables can be good tasting as well as good for you.  Grilling vegetables I find to be one of the best ways to enhance the natural flavor of most any vegetable.  Yellow squash, zucchini, green beans and red bell peppers really benefit from grilling.  In this dish I am using veggies I had prepared earlier on the grill just long enough to get the charring, but not fully cooking.  Then when I was ready to serve I finished them in a pan of crumbled bacon and seasoned to taste.  Quick, easy and a healthy side dish.  

Squash and Green Beans

Food is Life, Love and Art
Christopher

The Art of Smoking at Cajun Cleaver

Smoking Meats started early in human civilization as a part of food preservation.  Later it became an art for taking its place in the culinary traditions of many cultures.  "Cajun" dishes are often built around smoked meats like Andouille sausage.  Smoking is a method of cooking meats over a low heat for a long period of time.  Wood of various types are used, each giving its own unique flavor to the finale product.  Few sausages make such an impact on a recipe like Andouille.  Eaten like a hot dog nestled in a bun or part of a casserole, you can never go wrong with this very tasty and yes spicy treat.

Andouille Ready for the Smoker

Food is Life, Love and Art
Christopher

Delicious Brussel Sprouts

As a child I hated these things!  Nasty, bitter little cabbages that my mother bought frozen.  So you can imagine my disbelief when it was suggested I should try them again.  Much to my delight, they can be good.  First never buy frozen, it changes texture and in some way adds to the bitter factor.  While I have discovered a number of ways to prepare them, there is a very simple way.  Blanch them for about 4-5 minutes.  Drain and sear them in a hot pan.  I prefer a cast iron pan and place them cut side down.  Just as they appear to be"burning", hit them with a little balsamic vinegar and season to taste.  A tasty treat!

Food is Life, Love and Art

Christopher