Confessions of a Cajun Traiteuse - Faith Healer - Part I

Confessions of a Cajun Traiteuse - Faith Healer - Part I: "I am a woman of the past, a past I cannot and should not escape. I was born and raised to be a French traiteuse -- part spiritual visionary and sometimes, a healer of the heart, but never a sorcerer, not believing in them. My ways are those of the old ones and the only things I know well, are what they taught me. I knew them even as a child, just as I still know them as an old woman. I cannot forget them or their teachings." 3 videos.

By Jerilee Wei

Recipe: Coco-Cherry Cheesecake Bars

Do these look awesome or what???!!!


Coco-Cherry Cheesecake Bars

From Pillsbury.com

INGREDIENTS

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies

1 egg, separated

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

3 drops red food color

1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, finely chopped, drained on paper towels

1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup whipping cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In ungreased 13x9-inch pan, break up cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown.

2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, beat 1 egg white until frothy. Brush egg white over crust. Bake 3 minutes longer or until egg white is set.

3. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add egg yolk, 2 eggs, the condensed milk, almond extract and food color; beat until well blended. Stir in chopped cherries.

4. Pour cherry mixture evenly over crust. Bake 16 to 20 minutes longer or until set. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, heat chocolate chips and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Cool 20 minutes.

6. Stir whipping cream into chocolate mixture until well blended. Spread over cooled bars. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows. Store in refrigerator.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

Find more recipes at www.pillsbury.com

Recipe: Sweet Potato Bread

Listed under the Bed and Breakfast section, try this easy recipe on for size some morning on the weekend. Louisiana is known for its excellent sweet potatoes, something definitely treasured in Lafayette!

Sweet Potato Bread

From: Voila! Lafayette Centennial Cookbook 1884 – 1984

Yield: 6 – 8 servings


Ingredients:

½ cup butter

½ cup sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 cups grated raw sweet potatoes


Directions: Cream butter and sugars in large mixing bowl. Blend in eggs. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Fold in grated sweet potatoes.

Pour into well-greased 8-inch black iron skillet. Bake in preheated 350-degree F. oven for 1 hour or until tester comes out clean.

Proven Methods of Shucking Oysters

Proven Methods of Shucking Oysters: "My Cajun Grandpere Emile used to say in Cadien, 'If it swims or lives in the water and it doesn't eat us first, we eat it.' Oysters certainly fit this category. Since we lived near the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary, many of our relatives were employed in the wholesale oyster harvesting industry. Learning the various methods of shucking oysters was almost a right of passage once we were adults.

If you've never shucked an oyster, it may seem like a daunting task. Don't get disheartened if after your first few tries, you have a horde of minced up oysters -- just pretend you did that on purpose, as part of your secret recipe for oyster stew. However, once you've gotten the hang of it with a few practice oysters, be assured that you'll be able to shuck oysters competently, quickly, and come off looking like a professional oyster shucking champion." 3 videos.

By Jerilee Wei

Enjoy a Milk Chocolate Facial

Enjoy a Milk Chocolate Facial: "For those who like to go the extra mile for their skin, look no further than chocolate. With remarkably high antioxident levels, this miracle from nature is a prime candidate for fighting the signs of aging."

By Olde Cashmere

From Denny: Now I've heard it all! Using chocolate as a facial, cool!