A Taste of New Orleans

Jazz Fest starts this weekend in New Orleans! If you have any time, it's definitely worth a look & listen. The Fest, which runs from April 28th to May 8th, is two long weekends of non-stop music and delicious eats.

It's not all Jazz at Jazz Fest, not even close. There's one jazz tent among 12 tents and stages spanning every type of music including rock & roll, blues, gospel, pop and hip hop. Plus, for foodies, Jazz Fest is the ultimate feast. There's row upon row of food vendors, all of whom are local to Louisiana. There's nearly an infinite variety of local Cajun & Creole treats, so it's best to peruse the list beforehand, make a game-plan, and wear loose-fitting shorts or pants.

From past years, some of our favorite items are the Crawfish Monica from Kajun Kettle Foods- it's Cajun mac & cheese at it's finest and is loaded with creamy goodness, Cajun spices and plenty of fresh crawfish. We also feasted on Fried Soft-Shell Crab and Fried Catfish Po-Boy sandwiches from the Galley Seafood Restaurant in Metairie. There are also great Gumbos, Jambalayas and Muffuletta Sandwiches, so pace yourself! Finish it all off with a mini pecan pie or beignets and an iced café au lait. Wow, now we're definitely hungry!

To help you get ready for Jazz Fest with a taste of New Orleans, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and found a handful of delicious dishes from across the Web.

Muffuletta Sandwich
This sandwich features a tangy olive salad, so slather that on and then add your favorite toppings.
Ingredients: garlic, olive oil, caper, parsley, celery, bell pepper, bread, olives, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, provolone, salami

Becca's Jambalaya
A classic New Orleans rice dish loaded with great flavors!
Ingredients: garlic, shrimp, lemon juice, green and red bell pepper, onion, rice, sugar, celery, bay leaf, tomato sauce, canned tomato, Andouille sausage, chicken broth, hot sauce, Creole seasoning

Creole Seafood Seasoning
This seasoning mix is great on everything from Shrimp to Oysters to Catfish.
Ingredients: dried oregano, paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne powder, dried thyme, dried basil, powdered onion, powdered garlic

Hearty Okra Gumbo with Chicken & Shrimp
Gumbo is a fantastic stew best served over rice.
Ingredients: basil, garlic, olive oil, shrimp, lemon juice, green bell pepper, okra, bay leaf, salt, tomato paste, canned tomato, chicken thigh, chicken broth, chili sauce, yellow summer squash

Buttermilk Beignets
Beignets are light & fluffy and go great with cafe au lait.
Ingredients: sugar, buttermilk, salt, powdered sugar, baking soda, milk, peanut oil, active dry yeast, bread flour

Pralines
These are another classic, simple local favorite for dessert.
Ingredients: cream, pecan, sugar


Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.

Your Easter Menu

Easter Dinner is a great feast marking the end of Lent. While customs vary from country to country, decorating Easter Eggs are a common and fun activity. We also love eating chocolate eggs and those chocolate bunnies.

Easter falls at the beginning of Spring, so it features fresh, seasonal vegetables with vibrant green colors, like asparagus, peas and artichokes. For entrees, people traditionally eat lamb or ham dishes, so we've provided a recipes for both. Each family can create their own Easter meal traditions, so feel free to search FoodPair for your favorite menu items if you don't see them below.

To help you create a great Easter Menu from start to finish, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and found a handful of delicious dishes from across the Web.

Italian Vegetable Salad with Creamy Garlic Dressing
Start off your meal with a salad featuring fresh, seasonal vegetables.
Ingredients: garlic, egg, asparagus, lemon juice, anchovy, cauliflower, vegetable oil, fennel, Dijon mustard


Fresh Pea and Mint Soup
This soup, which can be made with fresh or frozen peas, features bright mint.
Ingredients: garlic, olive oil, mint, shallot, chicken broth, frozen peas

Rack of Lamb with Chutney-Mint Glaze
Eating lamb is an Easter Tradition in most of the world.
Ingredients: mint, lamb, mango chutney, mint jelly

Easter Ham with Mango-Ginger Glaze
This ham recipe features terrific Asian flavors.
Ingredients: ginger, ham, brown sugar, ground clove, mango nectar

Steamed Asparagus with Cardamom Butter
This brisket is enhanced by the flavors of Spring.
Ingredients: olive oil, asparagus, butter, cardamom, salt

Peanut Butter Chocolate Eggs
Everyone loves chocolate-covered Easter eggs.
Ingredients: peanut butter, bittersweet chocolate


Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.

Passover Treats with a Twist

Passover begins at sunset on Monday, April 18th. This historic holiday commemorates the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. Led by Moses, the Israelites were able to escape Pharaoh's rule after the Ten Plagues were inflicted on the Egyptians. Because the Israelites had to flee in such a hurry, their bread for the journey did not have time to rise and they were left with matzo.

To celebrate Passover, Seders are held the first two nights of the holiday and people give up bread for matzo. At the Seders, certain foods have become traditional, including Matzo Ball Soup, Gefilte Fish and Beef Brisket. While many of the recipes have been passed down from generation to generation, a new breed of chefs have helped to elevate the classics. Here, we present some of the classic Passover dishes alongside modern versions with some creative flourishes. Try out some of the recipes today, you'll be glad you did!

To help you assemble the best traditional and modern Passover recipes, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and found a handful of delicious dishes from across the Web.

Cheese-Matzoh Blintzes with Asparagus & Dill
Blintzes can be customized with your favorite fillings for any meal.
Ingredients: egg, scallion, asparagus, butter, dill, salt, black pepper, vegetable oil, milk, cottage cheese, matzo meal


Classic Matzo Ball Soup
This soup features fluffy matzo balls in a savory broth.
Ingredients: chicken, egg, carrot, parsley, celery, salt, chicken stock, white pepper, club soda, chicken fat, matzo meal

Celery & Parsnip Soup with Green Onion-Dill Matzo Balls
This is a great new twist on the classic matzo ball soup.
Ingredients: garlic, scallion, ginger, celery, chicken stock, parsnips, margarine, matzo balls

Sweet & Sour Brisket with Shallots and New Potatoes
This brisket recipe is packed with complementary flavors.
Ingredients: garlic, olive oil, shallot, onion, date, canned tomato, chicken broth, brisket, orange juice, ground clove, new potatoes

Roasted Brisket with Parsley, Mint and Thyme
This brisket is enhanced by the flavors of Spring.
Ingredients: garlic, mint, parsley, thyme, red wine vinegar, salt, black pepper, chicken broth, brisket, red pepper flakes, yellow onion

Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote with Matzo-Streusel Topping
This fresh fruit compote is the perfect ending to your meal.
Ingredients: lemon juice, strawberry, sugar, rhubarb, brown sugar, lemon zest, salt, cinnamon powder, margarine, matzo meal, potato starch


Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.

Incredible Edible Eggs

Eggs are a symbol of springtime, so as warmer weather arrives we started thinking about the importance of eggs in cooking and culture.

Some of us decorate and hide Easter Eggs. For the Persian New Year (called Norouz), every family member decorates a hard-boiled egg before they're collected and displayed in a bowl. When it comes to food, eggs are a part of nearly every meal- they're often the centerpiece of a hearty breakfast, a key ingredient in baked goods, pastas & desserts, and the binder for grandma's famous meatballs.

Over the years we've come to appreciate other eggs besides the famous chicken egg. Sturgeon eggs are prized as black caviar. Sushi masters add flavor and color to their maki rolls with tobiko, also known as flying fish roe. Delicate quail eggs often sit atop fine dining dishes. (Then there's the eggplant, but that's not an egg at all.)

Eggs are an affordable source of protein and are often thought of as a perfect food because they supply all the essential amino acids and plenty of vitamins. Eggs are also high in cholesterol, so some people opt for egg whites when cooking.

To help you assemble the best recipes featuring eggs of all shapes and sizes, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and found a handful of delicious dishes from across the Web.

Asparagus Salad with Quail Eggs & Tarragon Vinaigrette
Quail eggs are an elegant addition to salads and vegetables.
Ingredients: shallot, asparagus, celery, tarragon, white wine vinegar, salt, grapeseed oil, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, quail egg


Fonduta
This Italian fondue is fantastic as a dip or sauce. Try it with truffles!
Ingredients: egg, butter, mushrooms, polenta, milk, Fontina cheese, white pepper

Deviled Eggs
Delicious deviled eggs are always a great party treat.
Ingredients: egg, onion, paprika, salt, black pepper, mayonnaise, Tabasco sauce, Dijon mustard

Ice-Tray Sushi Blocks
Here's where you can use flying fish roe. No rolling required!
Ingredients: cucumber, salmon, scallion, black pepper, mayonnaise, kosher salt, sesame oil, lime juice, orange juice, grape tomatoes, sushi rice

Soft-Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Ricotta and Chives
Perfectly cooked eggs are the best way to start the day.
Ingredients: egg, butter, ricotta cheese, chive, bread, fleur de sel

Pecan Meringue Cookies
Egg whites make these cookies incredibly light & airy.
Ingredients: egg, pecan, sugar, vinegar, salt


Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.

We're Cooking with Lamb

Many of us shy away from cooking lamb because it seems like a difficult ingredient to handle. Turns out, everyone can cook delicious lamb at home with a little know-how and inspiration. How? Pay attention to the Mediterranean because cooks there mastered the art of cooking lamb centuries ago.

In Greece, they turn ground lamb into great meatballs, also called kofta, with garlic, mint and olive oil. For Easter, they make a unique soup with lamb, dill, onion and egg. Break out the skewers to make glazed lamb kebabs or fire up the slow-cooker to make fall-off-the-bone tender lamb stews and braises. Finally, for a traditional American presentation, get a nice rack of lamb and crust it with your favorite herbs and spices.

Now you see that there are so many ways to cook lamb, so pick your favorite dish and make magic happen in the kitchen. Incorporating lamb into your meals is a great way to feature International flavors, especially those from the Mediterranean, Europe and South Asia. Best of all, many of these dishes are healthy, relying mainly on olive oil and fresh herbs for cooking and flavor.

To help you assemble the best recipes featuring Lamb, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and found a handful of delicious dishes from across the Web.

Greek Meatballs
Moist & delicious, these meatballs are a great starter.
Ingredients: garlic, jalapeno pepper, olive oil, mint, shallot, lamb, black pepper, orange zest, Greek yogurt, salt pork


Easter Lamb Soup
This tasty soup is part of the traditional Greek Easter meal.
Ingredients: olive oil, egg, scallion, lamb, lemon juice, dill, onion, sea salt, chili

Bulgur Wheat Salad with Pink Seared Lamb
You can't go wrong with a flavorful bulgur salad with veggies and herbs.
Ingredients: cilantro, olive oil, mint, scallion, zucchini, lamb, chile pepper, salt, black pepper, lime juice, bulgur wheat

Slow Cooked Lamb with Beans
Slow cooking is a great way to make lamb tender & delicious.
Ingredients: garlic, rosemary, lamb, carrot, onion, parsley, cannellini beans, vegetable oil, sea salt, white wine

Tamarind-Honey Lamb Kebabs on Mashed Yams
This dish is easy to prepare and full of Mediterranean flavor.
Ingredients in this recipe: honey, butter, lamb, tamarind, yam, cumin powder, chili garlic hot sauce, ground cardamom

Rosemary-Pesto Lamb Rack
This makes a great meal alongside roasted potatoes and a salad.
Ingredients: garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, rosemary, lamb, parsley


Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.