
Wondering what to serve this holiday? Award-winning chef to the stars Chef Ryan Rondeno and Chef Christopher Montgomery have some delicious ideas.
“Always remember to make it with love, because you are feeding somebody’s soul,” comments Chef Montgomery.
Louisiana Crawfish, Bucatini, English Peas
Chef Ryan Rondeno / Food Culture App & www.rondenoculinarydesigns.com
“This creamy and rich crawfish pasta is found on my dinner table frequently! A great addition to your seafood recipe collection and a great way to try crawfish,” comments Chef Rondeno.
Serves 4
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 lbs. bucatini pasta
1 c. English peas
1 lbs. Louisiana crawfish tails
1 tbs. Nola Creole Seasoning
2 oz. butter
4 oz. brie cheese
2 c. heavy cream
1 c. chicken stock
2-3 tbs. garlic, chopped
1 tsp. chopped thyme
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
3 tbs. chives, snipped
salt and white pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Pasta: Boil pasta according to manufacturer’s instruction. Drain in a colander. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. For the English Peas: In a 2-quart pot, Add water and 1-2 teaspoons of salt. When it comes up to a boil, add peas. Once peas rise to the surface, remove and place in an ice bath to stop cooking. When cool, remove peas and set aside. For the Brie Cheese Sauce: In a 12 in. sauté pan, Add butter and sauté garlic at medium heat. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Add thyme and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. Add heavy cream, chicken stock, and lemon juice. Reduce by half or until slightly thickened. Whisk in brie cheese and parmesan cheese. Add crawfish, peas, and creole seasoning. Taste for seasoning adjustments. Toss with bucatini pasta. Garnish with chives. Serve immediately.
Cumin Roasted Carrots, Spiced Creme Fraiche
Chef Ryan Rondeno
“Great vegetarian side dish to add to your dinner table! The spice crème fraîche and carrot pesto comes together beautifully with the roasted carrots,” adds Chef Rondeno.
Serves 4
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
2 bunches of heirloom or rainbow carrots with carrot tops
8 oz. crème fraîche
1 c. olive oil, plus 2 tbs.
2 tsp. curry powder
2 tbs. butter
1 tsp. ground ginger
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
2-3 tsp. ground cumin
1 cup carrot top leaves
Juice of 1 lemon
1-2 tsp. crushed red pepper
4-5 sprigs of thyme
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove carrot tops and reserve. Peel carrots. Thoroughly clean the carrots removing any dirt. This step could take 2 or 3 times. In a 12-inch sauté pan, add butter and olive oil at medium heat. Add cumin, 4 cloves of garlic smashed, crushed red pepper, and thyme. Toast for 30 seconds. Add carrots and mix in the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 25 minutes. For the Carrot Pistou: In a food processor, add carrot leaves, sunflower seeds, garlic, juice of half a lemon. Pulse until finely chopped. Slowly drizzle olive oil until fully incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. For the Creme Fraiche: In a small bowl, add, creme fruit, curry powder, ground ginger, and juice of 1/2 a lemon. Whisk until smooth. Season with salt and white pepper. Taste for seasoning adjustments. To Assemble: Smear creme fraiche on the base of the plate. Add roasted carrots. Spoon pistou on top of carrots.
The Original Mama Bear’s Sweet Potato Pie
Chef Christopher Montgomery / www.cealo-la.com
Chef would like to note, when a chef provides a recipe, it is the basic foundation of the dish. It is the love of the person who is preparing that dish and how they handle the ingredients when making the dish is what brings it to life.
Yields: Four 9-inch Pies
Pie Filling Ingredients
2 large sweet potatoes
12 ounces light brown sugar
6 ounces melted butter
3 eggs
2 ounces pure vanilla extract
2 ounces self-rising flour
2–12-ounce cans evaporated milk
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt
1 ½-8-ounce pack/box cream cheese
Instructions
Boil the sweet potatoes for up to an hour (they should be soft). Once potatoes are boiled, drain, peel and place in a mixing bowl. Whip potatoes, sugar and cream cheese until well combined (a mixer would do the trick). Add flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix until well combined. Add melted butter, eggs and evaporated milk and mix. Once well blended together pour into cooled pie crusts
Pie Crust Ingredients
1 pound Graham cracker crumbs
8 ounces sugar
8 ounces melted butter
4-nine-inch pie pans
Instructions
Mix crumbs and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add melted butter and mix until evenly blended: crumbs should be completed moistened by the butter. Scale the mixture into pie pans (8 ounces per pan). Spread the mixture evenly on the bottom and sides of the pan. Press another pan on top to pack the crumbs evenly. Bake at 350’F for 10 minutes. Cool thoroughly before adding the sweet potato pie filling.
Baking Instructions
Once your pie filling is well blended, evenly distribute the filling into the pie crusts. Bake at 375’F for 15 min. Touch the top of the pie with your finger to test density. If filling doesn’t come up, the pie is done. Remove from the oven and let cool until ready to serve Optional: Serve with vanilla ice cream on fresh whip cream.