Cajun Spiced Nuts (My Favorite Holiday Recipe)

My new favorite recipe, Cajun Spiced Nuts, is one that comes from a cookbook that I bought in Hattiesburg, MS. We were there twice last year. The first time when Thomas was deploying and the second when I went to pick him up. Even though one of the visits meant that Thomas was leaving for his first deployment, the cookbooks represent a very happy chapter in my life. I went to the same place to pick him up as I did to see him off. And, it was the first "vacation" that I'd had in a long time. Since I picked him up on December 20th the place is linked in my mind to the holidays and probably the best Christmas that I've ever had. The cookbooks are from The Crescent City Grill, a restaurant where we ate when we were there in March. The restaurant happened to be closed in December or we would have enjoyed a good second helping of some of the best food I've ever had in my life. I like his food so much that I bought two cookbooks (along with some Blackening Seasoning for a Christmas gift) while we were there and absolutely love them for their Deep South recipes and the Southern Humor/Food articles that punctuate each chapter. I started making Cajun Spiced Nuts last Christmas. I gave little packages of them as gifts. They are salty, sweet and spicy with homemade Creole Seasoning (also in the book). Robert St. John is my new cookbook hero. Here is the link to his website.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday filled with successful new recipes and the "oldies-but-goodies" that remind you of the joy of Christmases past.

Amber

Cucumbers and Dilly Sour Cream Dressing

Yesterday was the first official day of summer break for me. The classes ended Wednesday, but yesterday I had other work to do, so I'm not counting it.

Today, I got up around 9 a.m., made my coffee from freshly ground beans and then ate the breakfast that T cooked. Then we worked outside in the glorious weather. I got a little too hot since I'm not used to working outside, but I'm cool now. I worked in the garden while T mowed. I caged the tomatoes, dug a few of the tiny little onions that I could find, thinned the dill and pulled the worm eaten Brussel's sprouts in disgust/defeat. The worms are just too much for me this year.

I came in after all that to cool off, then went back out to build a Teepee for the cucumbers and stake a couple of tomato plants. T was done mowing and brought the hose down to the garden so we could water it. He's such a great guy, he even told me how nice the garden looked. :-D

Now we are just hanging out inside in the cool after a lunch of turkey wraps with dilly cucumbers in sour cream.

Cucumbers in Dill-Sour Cream Dressing

3 cucumbers peeled and seeded
1/2 cup Reduced Fat Sour Cream
Fresh Dill
1-2 Tablespoons white vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste

Cut the cucumbers into 1/2-inch strips. Stack strips together and dice. Place cucumbers a bowl. finely chop the dill and add it to the cucumbers. Add the sour cream, vinegar, salt and pepper then toss everything together; mixing well. It's great for topping sandwiches or by itself.



A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 NIV

I'm so thankful for the friends that let me stay with them while I had classes in Little Rock. I'm also thankful for the new friends that I've made these past few weeks. I know that I have met some who will be dear to me for the rest of my life.