E is for Etouffee

and Elephant Emma Lou

And more than likely “where the ‘ELL’ have I been?”

Is that your next question?

I have no defense for taking some time off from the blog.

None.

I mean, I just started June 17^th, so taking a few months off seems a little premature. Right?

Was I that exhausted that I needed a long sabbatical?

The answer is no.

But, readers, sometimes life just gets in the way of the things you enjoy the most.

For me, taking a new job took precedence over this wonderful pastime that I have been cultivating over the last few months.

Incidentally, writing is my thing. I love it…and I have loved building this platform.

So, as Jack Nicholson says in the moving The Shining, “I’m back.”

Incidentally, I’ve never seen that movie because I really don’t like scary movies.

Here’s what happened: When I was 15 years old my parents got one of the original Curtis Mathis VCR’s and we started renting movies like there was no tomorrow.

Sadly, one of those rentals included the movie Happy Birthday to Me.

Google it.

Or don’t because then like me you will be scared to stay by yourself for the rest of your life.

Moral of the story: Don’t let your kids rent scary movies at the VCR Store.

So where was I? Oh…at the “I’m back” part.

I’m back with the month of March full of everything green!

I’m not kidding…everything from charcuterie boards to key lime trifles to avocado chicken salad…you won’t want to miss not one single post.

Oh, and this great GIVE-AWAY!

I’m not kidding…I’m giving away a food processor!

It’s my second favorite small appliance in my kitchen and I use it for everything, so I decided since I was re-entering the blog-o-sphere I might as well come BACK with a BANG.

The only thing you need to do to enter is comment “I’m glad you are back” on my Alphabet Mom Instagram or Facebook page and tag 5 friends who might enjoy my blog!

That’s it!

 I’ll enter you to win and draw on Saturday, March 7^th!

Don’t live near me for the delivery of your brand new food processor?

No worries, I’ll mail! What are you waiting for?

Go comment! And comment below, as well! Your comments help keep me rebooted and recharged!

Wait. Does anyone remember what today’s post is about?

Oh yeah, shrimp etouffee.

And Elephant Emma Lou…the 5^th book in my children’s book series, Alpha-kidZ.

I wrote this book because you know how some kids can’t keep up with their stuff?

Yeah…that kid was me.

That adult is also me, because I can’t keep up with my keys!

Which is exactly what happens to Emma’s mom…wonder where I got that storyline?

I also wrote this book for the Grand Dame of the Twin Cities, the one, the only, Mrs. Linda Lavender Ford.

Yes, Mrs. Linda taught me everything I know about dance.

That’s a lie. I don’t know anything about dance.

Except that I CAN’T dance.

Yeah…I do know that for sure.

But in this book, like all the books in my series, I kind of make fun of myself.

Isn’t that what we are supposed to do? Laugh as much as possible?

Well, the story in Emma Lou makes me laugh every time I read it.

And now, the real Emma Lou, the book’s beautiful namesake, is graduating from high school.

Wait.

It might have been a while ago that I released this one, but the story is still relevant! Get it if you don’t have it!

Speaking of getting what you don’t have, I can assure you that you don’t have an etouffee recipe that’s as good as the one in today’s blog post.

It’s a fact.

I got the recipe from my good friend, and loyal Alpha-kidZ customer, Kathy Wilson, because she buys my books for her grandbabies and that makes her, well, one of my favorites.

Just like this recipe…it’s also one of my favorites.

And the best part is how easy it is!

So let’s get to it, now that we are all reunited and it feels so good.

Here’s what you will need: shrimp, butter, bell pepper, onion, Rotel tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup and milk.

Let me tell you, when all these flavors meld together…it’s etouffee Utopia.

And I’m not kidding.

So here’s a secret, or maybe it’s not a secret, maybe this is what everyone does and I just don’t know it.

That can’t be true, though, because sometimes, when I’m eating someone else’s shrimp or crawfish-based dishes, the “fishy” taste takes over my entire nostril flares.

Wait…what the cat hair is a nostril flare?

So, here’s how to avoid that. If you are using frozen shrimp, it’s more likely that the fish need “a little help” eliminating the fishy taste.

What I do, is thaw them out in a colander under running warm water to wash them real well.

Next, I press them with a paper towel to push out all the excess water. Then I sprinkle them with some Tony Chachere’s, probably about a teaspoon, and mix until well coated.

You can actually use any Cajun seasoning you want, and if they are really stubborn and still smell a little fishy, then pour about a teaspoon of Crab Boil on top of them and mix well.

The results are so worth this extra step!

After you have prepped your shrimp, melt two sticks of butter and add your chopped bell pepper and onion and let them sauté until soft and tender.

Next, add your shrimp and cook 3-5 minutes until they turn pink and tender. Don’t overcook them because they will get tough.

Next add 2 cans of Rotel tomatoes, 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 2 cans of cream of chicken soup and the 1 ½ cups of milk.

Now for the seasonings. I’m always someone who “seasons to taste” so to help those of you who are helpless, add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper and 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning (I used Tony’s).

Stir until well mixed and let it all heat together about 20-30 minutes until hot.

Serve over rice (or noodles) with French bread and a great salad.

Thanks Kathy Wilson…we all owe you one!

Especially this wayward friend who stopped by to pick up her dinner…because sharing is caring!