Month: October 2021

  • Cajun Favorites

    Cajun Favorites

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    If I’m being honest, this post is way past due! One of my most asked questions is “Mitzi, where did you get your big pots… what does Josh use to cook his gumbo in?” For the longest, I didnt have an answer. I inherited my grandmother’s aluminum Magnalite pots and we recieved a few for our wedding, but the company is no longer. You could go to many places in South Louisiana and purchase Cajun Ware, but they weren’t online for my out of town friends to purchase.

    That is until I found these options that I have linked in my Amazon Storefront! I love my aluminum cookware. Its sturdy and can be passed from generation to generation, I have my grandmothers and it’s still going strong. Now, I do have to say, they are not dishwasher friendly. They will turn and become dull if you run through the dishwasher and they will turn black if you boil straight water in them. I was always taught from an early age that those two things were big no-no’s with my “magnalites/cajun wares.”

    Now, after sharing my favorite Cajun cookware, it’s time to share Josh’s. He loves to cook in cast iron. We tracked down a big 18qt Dutch Oven from Don’s Specialty Meats in Scott, LA a few years ago and he uses that pot to cook everything! He also enjoys using it to cook on our outside burners during the fall/winter. I wish that I could have found an 18qt to link, but I could only find a 12qt and Cast Iron looks to be in limited supply right now. I will be on the lookout and update my storefront with inventory as it becomes available.

    Also linked are our FAVORITE cooking spoons! We use them daily. We love to have both the short cooking spoon and the longer spoons in our arsenal and these really are the best! Now, I know what you are going to tell me, “Jar roux, Mitzi, REALLY?!” Mais, yeah!! I can cook my own roux with the best of them, but there are times when you end up accidentially burning it, discover your flour is bad, or are in a rush and don’t have the extra time to devote to making a roux. Kary’s is our favorite to have on hand in a pinch. Honestly, some of our best Gumbo feedback has been from making it from a jarred roux! I’ve also linked my favorite cookbooks, Cajun power items, and a few other staples that are a must in our Cajun household!

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  • Updating your Dining Room Decor on a budget

    To be honest, I’ve never reallly LOVED my dining room. I love little bits and pieces of it, but there were certain spaces that I never found decor that looked right in my space. I thrifted my sideboard and although it has a ton of space to store my fine china, the top of it has always proved to be difficult to decorate given its odd size.

    My decor taste has changed in the last 5 years, and although I love my dining room furniture, I really wanted to give it a more transitional update. I wanted to do so as budget friendly as possible, and well frankly, the Target/Studio McGee collection never dissapoints.

    I started with the mirror to build the vignette and did a little happy dance when this artwork nexted perfectly in front of it. I flanked the other side with the beautiful brown glass vase and elevated it slightly with an old book, then filled it with dried wheat branches for dimension.

    Once I had my anchor pieces, it was time to accessorize. I loved the wooden chain and pumpkin. I actually had other ideas for these pieces, but they just nested perfectly here. Next, I fell in LOVE with this candle and match vessels from the Old Flame Candle Co. This was a splurge, but I love that I can send it back to be refilled and it becomes the candle that keeps on living.

    Candle and Vessel are from The Old Flame Candle Co.

    Of course, it wouldn’t be a dining room refresh without a little seasonal decor! When I was shopping at Target, I came across these pretty, rustic ceramic pumpkins. Josh lost my Halloween tote in the abyss that is our Christmas corner, so a festive fall tablescape it was! I paired it with some vases, both new and old, and some antique candle holders. I tossed in bunches of silk mums from the craft store and… voila! Even my wine fridge is warm and cozy with my peace plant in a warm toned basket. Can I just say how much I love that warm tones are back!