Another Junior League Book ~ Marshes to Mansions

Marshes to Mansions - Treasured Recipes of South Louisiana, published in 2007. All recipes were reviewed and compiled by the Junior League of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

A Taste of St. Charles (Appetizers & Beverages) begins the recipes with crawfish beignets, corn crepes filled with barbecued wild duck, sausage won ton cups, smoked Gouda & apple stuffed mushrooms, crab remoulade, oyster lettuce roll-ups with curry sauce, a turkey mushroom pate, egg & olive spread, blue bayou margaritas (made with blueberries), martinis (key lime pie, green apple, lemon drop or pomegranate), orange sangria and coffee punch, which is followed by Around the Lake (Soups, Salads & Breads) which offers crawfish soup, gumbo (shrimp & oyster or duck & sausage), an oyster artichoke truffle soup, tomato bisque, bayou turtle soup, thyme soup, a watermelon & cucumber salad, a muffuletta salad, cranberry raspberry chicken salad, beer bread, cornmeal sage biscuits, cinnamon brunch bread and Grand Mariner French toast.

Cultural Crossroads (Entrees) boasts a saucy beef brisket, balsamic beef tenderloin, Cajun pot roast, jambalaya, veal Marsala, herbed leg of lamb, molasses pork tenderloin, cheddar cheese strata, India butter chicken, almond Dijon chicken and chicken & avocado pasta with Blend of the Bayous (Seafood & Game) dishing out a crawfish casserole, smoked salmon cheesecake,  catfish court bouillon, crab cakes with tequila sauce, flash fried oysters with tasso cream sauce, tomato coconut shrimp, seafood stuffed eggplant, dressed duck, frog legs, pheasant in red wine sauce and Mediterranean rabbit.

A few of the options in Southern Sides include garlicky sesame asparagus, mirlitons, okra patties, Bousin potato cakes, sweet potato balls, coffee kissed baked bananas, an oysters Rockefeller casserole, goat cheese grits and crab fried rice.

The last chapter pitches The Sweet Life (Desserts) which consist of amaretto bread pudding, a praline torte, strawberry cheesecake trifle, crepes Suzette, lemon & tequila pie, a buttermilk fig cake, creme de menthe bars, a Mardis Gras king cake, praline pecan bites almond butter toffee, peppermint bark and chocolate toffee crunch.