The Mysterious Mirliton

The mirliton, also know as "cayote squash" is a favorite ingredient used in cooking almost exclusively by natives of Louisiana (and those who live next door to them). This year, I'm giving my holiday recipes a Southern twist by making mirliton and shrimp stuffing, with the help of my neighbor Linda, a native New Orlinean. Her stuffing is without a doubt the very best I have ever had. Because people in Missisisippi aren't as familiar with mirliton, I had to go to Rouses to get the squash, where I also picked up the fresh shrimp. Here's Nick getting the shrimp ready for the pot.

Here's the "recipe" according to Linda:

-Boil about a dozen mirliton (she says MEH-lit-uhn)

-peel back the waxy layer

-saute an "entiahhh headah gahlic" with an onion in butter then throw in some fresh parsley

-then throw in 'this much' (making a bowl with her hands) of fresh shrimp

-then toss in fresh bread crumbs to taste

The result is heaven in your mouth. I promise. According to my research, mirliton are also grown in California. I want Nicole of Pinch My Salt to try this sometime and give it a gourmet twist!

We hope you are all having a very Merry Christmas, no matter what kind of stuffing you make!

No Christmas is complete without...

A kid with Santa photo...

Here's our niece Audrey with Santa...this year turned out exponentially better than last year. 

And for those of you, like me, that think the crying-child-with-Santa photos are even better, check this out: 

Scared of Santa: Scenes of Terror in Toyland by Denise Joyce. Soooo funny. 

Thanksgiving in WV

We were thrilled to get home to West Virginia for a few days over Thanksgiving and even more thrilled (up until the end of the game) to get to Pittsburgh for the Backyard Brawl. It was so great to get a little snow and family in our holiday season early on! That's us above, in the nosebleed section of Heinz Field where the windchill had to be 10 degree, trying to act like we don't live in the sunny south.

We were so happy to catch up with Missy & Blair at the alumni association tailgate on the Waterfront before the game. Then we took the ferry over to Heinz Field. Hey DG's, does anyone recognize this boat???

Pittsburgh skyline (part of it) taken from the ferry. Don't let the sunny skies fool you. It was freezing. 

We're baaaaack!

We've decided to resurrect the blog, because, well, there's no reason not to. Just because we don't have an entire ocean between us and our friends and family doesn't mean it's any easier to stay connected. Plus, our life on the Gulf Coast is just as exciting as ever. We'll post all of our culinary expeditions from Florida through Louisiana and beyond. In the meantime, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!