MICROWAVE MORSELS

MICROWAVE MORSELS

COOSH COOSH A LA MICROWAVE
From the kitchen of Anna Langlinais
INGREDIENTS
-3 cups cornmeal, your favorite of yellow, white or stone-ground
-1 1/2 tsp salt
-1 2/3 cup water
-2 tbsp vegetable oil
-1 tsp baking powder
MISE EN PLACE
-Mix together the water and the oil in a small bowl.
-Combine the cornmeal, salt, baking powder, plus water and oil in a 2 quart round glass casserole.
-Cover.
-Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
-Stir well.
-Microwave again for 6 more minutes.
-Stir well before serving.
Eat as a cereal with milk and added figs, sugar, cane syrup, coffee, bacon, or cracklings. Some even add peanut butter.
My mom always made a fresh pot of coffee for my dad’s bowl of Coosh Coosh.
What is your favorite?
I like mine plain with warm milk.

CINDY’S HOT ARTICHOKE DIP
Ready in minutes
Use as a side dish
INGREDIENTS
-1 can artichoke hearts
-1 cup grated Parmesan*, fresh not canned
-1 cup mayonnaise
-Seasoning, to your taste
-Frito Scoops or pita chips
MISE EN PLACE
-Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl.
-Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
-Transfer to attractive bowl.
-Serve with Frito Scoops or your chip or cracker of choice.
*1 block softened cream cheese can be substituted for Parmesan.

MICROWAVE CHOCOLATE CAKE
A whole cake
TOPPING
-1 1/2 cups hot water
-1 cup packed dark brown sugar
-1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-1/4 cup salted butter, cubed
CAKE
-1 cup flour
-1 cup white sugar
-1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-1 1/2 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp kosher salt
-1/2 tsp instant espresso powder*
-1 cup milk
-1 tsp vanilla flavoring
-1 cup vanilla ice cream, or to taste
MISE EN PLACE
-For topping, combine hot water, brown sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, and butter in a microwave-safe bowl.
-Microwave on high until bubbly, about 4 minutes.
-For cake, whisk together flour, white sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, and instant espresso powder in a 2-quart round casserole dish.
-Add milk and vanilla.
-Whisk until smooth.
-Pour topping over cake batter.
-Don’t mix. They will flow together.
-Microwave on high until cake is on top of the topping sauce, 8 to 10 minutes.
-Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream.
You can, of course, use any flavor of ice cream you like. Chocolate over chocolate is a chocoholic’s dream.
*A substitute for espresso powder would be 3/4 tsp instant coffee powder.

ICE CREAM BREAD
Easy and quick
INGREDIENTS
-1 pint (2cups) ice cream, softened
-1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
MISE EN PLACE
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Grease and flour an 8”x4” loaf pan.
-Stir together ice cream and flour, stirring just until flour is moistened.
-Pour into prepared pan.
-Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean.
-Remove from pan.
-Cool on a wire rack.
Pop it in the oven while preparing supper for a great dessert.
Serve with coffee for a morning or afternoon treat. Toast a few slices for breakfast and serve with butter and jelly.
Choose your favorite flavor ice cream. Make sure to use standard ice cream. Do not use sugar-free or reduced-sugar ice cream; you will not get best results.
The ice cream should be softened before using. Let it sit on counter until softened and mix it to be sure all lumps are gone before mixing with flour.
Store in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It should be good at room temperature for a few days. For longer storage, cut into slices and freeze.
Cover tightly in plastic wrap and wrap in foil before freezing for up to 3 months.
SUGGESTIONS
-Sliced strawberries folded into strawberry ice cream
-Chocolate ice cream with chocolate chunks or chips
-Chopped Oreos in cookies and cream ice cream.
-Chopped Oreos in any flavor ice cream
-Candy bars in peanut butter ice cream
-Any of your favorites in vanilla ice cream
-An added glaze or chocolate ganache will impress company that will think it took hours to prepare.
I think I will try chopped strawberries, banana slices, and chocolate chips in vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup drizzled over just before serving to create a banana split.
One reminder: Do not use any liquid-based add-ins, which could affect the texture of the final product. I had the idea of adding almond flavoring but realized it would be a mistake.
There are so many different flavored chips that will allow you to find a unique blend of your own: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, and several more.
ICE CREAM ON ICE CREAM BREAD
For an easy way to accentuate the flavor of plain ice cream, toast a slice of ice cream bread, dust it with confectioners sugar, and top with a scoop of ice cream.
SELF-RISING FLOUR
If you don’t usually use self-rising flour, it’s easy to make with ingredients you do have.
Whisk together
-1 cup all-purpose flour
-1 1/2 tsp baking powder
-1/4 tsp salt
This mixture is perfect self-rising flour that can be used in any recipe that calls for self-rising flour.

Monday was Vermilion Night at the Pentagon Barracks adjacent from the Capital Building. Many travel from our parish to visit with each other and with our elected officials. Ryan Bourriaque, Troy Hebert, Bob Hensgens, and our son Jacob Landry were all there milling through the crowd to say hello and answer questions.
Louisiana Clerks of Court were there for an annual outing to visit with state officials of each parish. Diane Meaux Broussard was there with the clerks, as were many other Vermillion parish officials. Gabe Marceaux, our assessor, Sheriff Eddie Langlinais, District Attorney Don Landry, Abbeville Mayor Roz White, Kaplan Mayor Mike Kloesel, and several police jurors, school board members, and city council members. What a wealth of information available! I quizzed a few.
People started gathering around 5:00 p.m. and were there until dark. The food was Cajun cooking at its best. Crawfish Fettuccini, Pork roast with rice and gravy, and corn along with fig loaf, pecan pie, and bread pudding all originated in Vermilion Parish.
Early in the afternoon Boo took a walk to the Capitol to check on Jacob while the House was in session. With a little scrap of time, Jacob stood and introduced his dad, thanked him, and at the end Jacob said, “I just hope I look like he does when I’m 77!”
Now that’s a politician! And a pleased Boo!

When you read this, we will probably know which of our area baseball teams will have triumphed in the quarter finals to go on to the semifinals. V C, Delcambre High, and Erath High School (with our grandson, Jack Landry in right field) all deserve good luck and can capitalize on their skill to walk away with victories.