Cajun Cornbread Recipe

Cajun Cornbread Recipe

Cook Time: 20-25 Minutes                             Difficulty:  Easy

No matter how you slice it, moist, flavorful sweet cornbread is undeniably one of the best and most versatile side dishes, because, it goes with just about anything, chili, soups, casseroles, Mexican, Southern or Cajun dishes, and so much more. With so many variations of cornbread out there, this spicier version may soon become your new favorite.

Our family goes nuts over this recipe, simply because it is awesome, but with a husband, two teenagers, and a young adult, this cornbread disappears as quickly as it comes out of the oven, so I usually need to make a double batch.  

This time, I wanted to create a Cajun version, so I snuck in our NEW Cajun Seasoning and our Pretty Hot Peppers, sweet green peppers with a little kick, a sure no-no for our middle child, Nicholas, who usually runs for the hills at the mention of peppers.  

So why would I even tamper with my family's precious cornbread recipe? That is what I do, I experiment and challenge my family's palate and watch their faces contort as I serve them something new (which is quite often). I find it quite humorous, but I am confident in most situations that my family will enjoy my creations.  When I was their age, I would never have been that accepting as a teenager, but our kiddos politely abide by the "One-Bite Rule" we have in our family.  They don't have to like what I make, but they have to at least try it!  Luckily, this recipe was a success. They liked the subtle spicier version almost as much as the original version, and it too was gobbled up. 

So, if you are looking to spice things up, this version of my family's favorite cornbread recipe is perfect for even the most discerning family members. It complements most dishes and will soon become your favorite cornbread as well.  Serve this cornbread with our Slow Cooker Peach BBQ Pork Recipe and our Best Darn Coleslaw Recipe for a complete meal.

Thank you for stopping by!

*Note-This recipe was adapted from Indian Head Brand Cornmeal.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of yellow corn meal (we used Indian Head Stone Ground Yellow Cornmeal).  
• 1 cup all purpose flour (to make it gluten free, substitute your favorite gluten free all-purpose flour)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 teaspoons (tsp.) baking powder
• 1-2 teaspoons (tsp) Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 jar of Cherchies® Pretty Hot Peppers, drained

Preparaton

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  In a medium bowl, mix together the corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and Cherchies Cajun Seasoning.  In a separate small bowl, beat the eggs and add the oil and milk.  Mix.

Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and add the Cherchies Pretty Hot Peppers.  Mix to combine.

 Pour the cornbread mixture into a greased 8x8 baking dish. and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Cajun Cornbread Recipe

Lemony Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

This tasty, tangy, colorful Greek-style pasta salad is the perfect side dish to bring to your next party or potluck.

I love making this easy, flavorful, refreshing salad, especially in the summer. It is the perfect excuse to take full advantage of summer's bounty without spending much time in the kitchen. Your family or guests will devour this dish, as it has garden fresh vegetables, orzo pasta, creamy feta cheese, and a tangy champagne honey lemon vinaigrette (featuring Cherchies® award-winning Champagne Mustard), bringing this dish from great to extraordinary. To make this pasta salad heartier, add some leftover protein, like chicken or shrimp, for an easy, refreshing summer meal. This recipe is best made the day before the event, as the flavors intensify, but making it the day of, earlier in the day, would be perfectly fine.

So grab some vegetables from your garden or your favorite farmer’s market, and make this delightful Greek pasta salad today. You will not be disappointed.

Comment below and let us know if you made this recipe. Thank you for visiting. Come back and revisit us for more delicious recipes, cooking tips, and entertaining ideas.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups cooked orzo pasta

• 1 cup coarsely chopped seedless cucumbers

• 1 cup chopped tomatoes (can use cherry tomatoes cut in half if you'd prefer)

• 1/2 cup heaping cup crumbled feta cheese

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced purple onion

• 1 teaspoon Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning

• 1/2 cup Cherchies® Pretty Peppers, drained

• Fresh cracked black pepper to taste

• Champagne Honey Lemon Vinaigrette (below)

• Chopped parsley to garnish (optional)

Ingredients for champagne honey vinaigrette

• 1 Lemon, (zest, and juice)

• 1/2 tsp thyme

• 1 1/2 tsp. (teaspoon) Dijon mustard

• 1 1/2 tsp. (teaspoon) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 Salt and pepper

• 1/2 cup Olive oil

• 1/4 cup White wine vinegar

Preparation

Chop the onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and place them in a large bowl.  Season with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and set aside. Whisk all ingredients of vinaigrette in a small bowl. Set aside. Cook orzo pasta according to package directions.  Drain Pasta.  

Add the drained orzo to the salad.  Then add Cherchies® Pretty Peppers and lightly season with pepper. Right before serving, add the vinaigrette.

Next add the Feta cheese and mix to combine.  Add more dressing to taste.  Serve immediately. (*The flavors intensify if made a day ahead).

Tangy, refreshing Lemon Greek Salad.  Enjoy!

Lemony Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

The Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe

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Cook Time: About 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

There's just something to be said about garlic bread...the smell, the crunch, the taste...the comfort.  It is perfect for sopping up sauces, soups or serving as a side to any dish.  This garlic bread recipe is a winner, hands down and is definitely deserving of the title, Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe!

What is the secret ingredient in our Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe? It is Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning Blend, one of our oldest, most requested seasoning blends since 1980, and my all-purpose seasoning for most of my dishes, especially Garlic Bread!  Here is what our friends from across the country have said about Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning...

"I have been in love with this seasoning since 2012. I discovered the garlic Seasoning at the Pecan Store in Alabama. Other than eggs, I only use this seasoning with pepper... It makes beans, vegetables, and soups delicious. There is no greater garlic combination of flavoring".  LaRonda from Missouri

"My sister in law & I were " turned on" to this spice about 22 years ago...we use it in a ton of our cooking. It always must be in our kitchen and when company pops in - it is our dip of choice. It goes on meat, potatoes & veggies". LOVE CHERCHIES. Marianne from Connecticut

Awww, we love you too!  Thank you!

This recipe is super easy!  For this recipe, I used Ciabatta rolls in lieu of Italian bread because I love the nooks and crannies and wanted to experiment.  I often change the bread, sometimes I substitute the butter for Olive oil, and sometimes depending on my mood may add cheese to the garlic bread, but I always use Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, a staple in our kitchen and one that should be in yours too.  

Try it and let us know what you think!  Thank you for stopping by:)

Ingredients 

• 1 Ciabatta rolls, sliced in half (feel free to use your favorite Italian bread or baguette)
• Room-temperature butter (about 1 1/2 Tbsp. per slice, but who's measuring, go on and slather)
• Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning Blend or try our Cherchies® No-Salt Garlic'n Herbs Seasoning Blend

Preparation  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Slice the rolls or bread in half lengthwise and place on a baking sheet. Spread butter over the bread and sprinkle with a generous amount of Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning (maybe 1 Tablespoon or so, once again not measuring).  I would evenly coat the bread with a light dusting of Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning.  You can always add more when you go to taste the garlic bread.

Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until bread is lightly golden brown.  You want that nice crunch when you first bite into the garlic bread as well as the soft buttery garlicky bread inside.  Remove the tray from the oven and cut the rolls in half or the bread into 2-inch slices and serve immediately.  Enjoy!

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The Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe

Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe

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Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe

Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Difficulty:  Easy

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My favorite part about Thanksgiving and the holidays is spending precious moments with family and friends, but my second favorite?  The leftovers!

Leftovers are kind of my thing!  For years, I have prided myself on transforming last night's dinner into tonight's masterpiece, a skill that most likely developed from having picky eaters at the dinner table and not wanting to waste food.

For this recipe, I used leftover Thanksgiving turkey and sweet potatoes, our NEW Cherchies® Black Bean & Corn Salsa, cheese, a sprinkle of this and a dollop of that and voila, a fabulous stuffed sweet potato emerged, bursting with sweet and tangy Southwestern goodness. 

This recipe is the "bomb" (Sorry, dating myself), it's healthy, it's full of flavor, it's the perfect quick and easy meal, and It's a recipe you need to add to your favorites now!  Serve these potatoes with our Homemade Applesauce and a salad for a complete meal!  

What's your favorite use of Thanksgiving leftovers?  We would love to hear from you!

Ingredients  

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend
• 1 cup Cherchies® Black Bean & Corn Salsa
• 2 cups leftover cooked turkey or chicken, chopped (optional)
• 1 cup of Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend (Cheddar and Monterey Jack)
• Sour cream (optional)

Preparation  

Chop the cooked turkey or chicken and set aside.  Rinse, wash, and pat dry the sweet potatoes.  Keeping the skin on, prick each potato several times with a fork.  Wrap each potato in a paper towel and Microwave until potatoes are soft to the touch.  You may certainly bake the potatoes in a 350 degree oven until the potatoes are soft to the touch (usually about a half hour), but I cheated and used the microwave:)

Once the potatoes are soft, it's time to assemble.   With a sharp knife, cut a slit into each potato and gently pry open.  Use a fork to loosen some of the sweet potato.   Sprinkle each potato with about 1/4 teaspoon (tsp) of Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend.

Turn the oven onto Broil.   Place 1/2 cup of the turkey or chicken in each potato and mix slightly.  Next add 1/4 cup of Cherchies® Black Bean & Corn Salsa to the potato, then sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese over the potato.  Sprinkle an additional Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend over each potato.  

Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and broil on high until the cheese has melted (about 10 minutes).   And here you go, easy, cheesy, healthy, robust, Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes!  Enjoy!