Cajun New Year's Brunch Buffet + New Year's Boogie !

With 2010 coming to an end, I am planning on hosting a New Year's Day,  brunch buffet for my family and friends. It will be quite a spread and packed with delectable Cajun and Creole favorites, with plenty of black eye peas for good luck, and Bloody Mary's for those still feeling the effects of their New Year's Eve celebration. Bon Appetit and Happy New Year! (photo courtesy of Google)

Here's the menu, so far! This is a potluck buffet and I will be preparing the dishes in black type, with guests bringing the dishes in red.

Crawfish Dip w/ Pastry Shells  * Spicy Cajun Buffalo Wings *  Crab Stuffed Jalapenos * Seafood Boudin * Shrimp Remoulade *

Cajun Baked Ham w/ Sugarcane-Bourbon Glaze * Cajun BBQ Ribs * Spicy Creole Jambalaya * Creole Shrimp Pasta Salad * Slow Cooker-"Good Luck" Black-Eyed Peas * Creole Smothered Cabbage * New Orleans Muffaletta Salad * Spinach-Artichoke Quiche*  Cajun Breakfast Casserole * Jalapeno Hashbrown Casserole * Fresh Fruit Platter *

 Mama's Cornmeal Biscuits * French Market Beignets * Cajun Sausage Cornbread

Chocolate Bread Pudding w/ Praline Sauce * Bananas Foster Crunch Cake * Very Cherry Cheesecake * Cajun Bloody Mary's * Southern Mimosa's *

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And if you're wondering what to do with that ham bone in the freezer, from Christmas dinner, here's a way to use it for your New Year's celebration. Cajun tradition has it that if you eat black eyed peas and cabbage on New Year's Day, you will have good luck all year! Here's an easy, delicious recipe for slow cooker black-eyed peas that will have you adding this fabulous dish to your table at any time of year! Le bon mange'! (photo courtesy of Google)

 Slow Cooker "Good Luck" Black-Eyed Peas

1 pound dried black-eyed peas

1 tbs. vegetable oil

1 large red onion, chopped

1/2 cup each, red and green bell peppers, and celery

2 tsp.'s minced garlic

1 can diced Ro-tel tomatoes w/ green chilies

1 quart water, (more, if needed)
1 tsp. dried thyme

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tbs. Cajun seasoning

Few good shakes Tabasco

1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. yellow mustard

1 cup ham, chopped

1 ham bone, (with some meat left on)

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 cup green onions, tops included, sliced

 Saute the onions, bell peppers, celery, and garlic, in the vegetable oil, until soft. (about 10 minutes) Combine all ingredients in slow cooker, except the parsley and green onions, and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low, for 7 to 8 hours. Remove ham bone and add the parsley and green onions in the last 30 minutes, stir well, and maybe add a little more hot sauce. Cest bon, cher!

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Back by popular demand, here's a little clip of Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic that will get you in party mode to ring in the new year! A little Zydeco for those of you who may be snowed in or otherwise can't get out to celebrate. Grab a glass of champagne and crank it up cher, and let the meatballs, roll,  let em' roll,  let em' roll! Out with the old and in with the new! Allons danse', cher!



Just in case you missed my Cajun cookbook giveaway post, you can still enter until midnight on January 1st by clicking  here, or by scrolling down to the previous post. Good luck, cher!