WANTED: Received: Lovely Lousiana Lady Lavishes Luxuries

20 years ago

Oh Karen, I can see why there is a 1 after your screen name; youre 1st in my book.

Wait until you see what cleverness awaited me in a box.

Let me first tell you that I came home last night after 10:00 and our doorman said that I had a box from UPS. I was tired from the weekend celebrations and just said, "thanks, hold it for the morning," and I went to our apartment, got into a robe. I hadnÂt been on the computer since Friday so I went to check my mail. What awaited me was a SOS or BTW or heads-up from our intrepid leader, Ann, that I my package was delivered and my swap buddy was awaiting a response that all was safe. I knew it must be because my doormen tell us if things are rattling or leaking.

Okay, okay, IÂm getting to it, gees! So I go to sleep but awake at 4:00 AM and now I canÂt fall back to sleep IÂm so excited to find out whatÂs in it. The mailroom is locked and I had to wait until 7:00.

Tah-Dah, drum roll, banjo, horn:

The box is large and filled with goodies all wrapped in pretty paper and ribbons. There are color themes to the paper I learn later when I open the "wait until last" envelop so all I know is the box is from Louisiana, but my tired brain doesnÂt figure out who lives there and there is no name on the shipping box just an address.

I donÂt know where to begin, but being an Aries, I go for the red wrapping. Actually crawfish color. Later I read that these goodies are (Theme 1) "Local Louisiana La La" what I find are Â 1. Raspberry Pepper Jelly Â I am waiting to try that with something soon

2. Mayhaw Jelly - donÂt know what Mayhaw is, but a spoonful said "YUM!"

(Okay, this is a brain test because with everything in front of me, I donÂt remember what was in what color for sure)

3. A bottle of blackberry wine from AmatoÂs a Louisiana Native Winery (too early to try, shucks!)

4. The most lovely, and might I say, sexy wooden spoons. Perfect for stirring up anything, but I promise to use them for a roux and Cajun dish first.

5. And good thing because, KaryÂs Dry Roux should make me look expert the first try

6. Gumbo FilÃ© to add for the quintessential dish

7. Please tell me that the Jasmin rice was in redÂI think it was, but whichever it came from, it smells fragrant right through the Hoppe Farms bag. I love rice.

The Yellow Package (Theme 2) is "Loafin in Louisiana." Loafin my arse! Who could sit back and ignore the beckoning of such a splendid 8.) piece of pottery from "nationally known potters David and Emily Wortman?" Such a beautiful hand potted piece. Thank you Karen I will use it so proudly! It is stunning!

Next I opened (and by the way, I felt like a kid at a surprise party the whole time) the "Lovely Linen" (Theme 3) wrapped in purple. Exquisite 9. linens with Crawfish on them. Pristine white towel and matching cocktail napkins with faggoting or cut-work hems.

"Look Ân Like" (theme 4) was a pair of cookbooks wrapped in tan: 10. Creole Cookery, first published by 32 ladies of the Christian WomanÂs Exchange in 1885 and the format of this 2005 publication is just the same as then, so donÂt mess with success. The recipes are straight-forward and my stomach is rumbling. Number 11. Is entitled, Pirates Pantry and is from the Junior League of Lake Charles. I feel I should replicate the Julie Julia project and cook from cover to cover! There is even a sketched instruction of the peeling of crawfish. Clearly I will need a bit of tutorial on eating Creole and Cajun food.

The final theme is "Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler" Let the good times roll, indeed! Oh my my my, merci, mais vous Ãªtes trop exagÃ©rÃ© ! 12. The plates the bowls for two are utterly perfect for serving etouffÃ© or gumbo, or whatever else I learn to make from my new cookbooks.

Karen, I only hope you know how appreciative I am of your generousity and your spirit. I loved you note and if you get to New York with DH, weÂll treat you to dinner not the other way around.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart (and growling stomach)!

RenÃ©e

PS. If I took the time to embed the photos it would be tomorrow when I posted this so please check the link below

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Comments (55)

lowspark
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a fun package! Blueberry wine... hmmm... might have to find some of that just to give it a try! Good job Karen!
kent4489
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Renee....wow, wow, wow...fabulous!
Karen, you are one terrific swapper!

Jayne
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chancesmom
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Holy moly!!!That is to die for! (Can anyone in this forum count???)

That is amazing, great theme and great goodies.

janet
brenda55
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a fun and super box, Karen. Renee have fun with that box, the pottery is really cool!

Brenda
sheshebop
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Dang! Every time I see one of these absolutely wonderful swap packages, I start to rethink my own swap box... Karen, you did great! Lucky you Renee!
Terri_PacNW
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Ya know that box had somethin missin... ~wink~

The Plane Tickets.....

Neat stuff!
annie1992
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Karen, you did very well, indeed. I love that square pan/crock and I did buy a bottle of blueberry wine once but never got the chance to taste it. My mother drank it all and told me it was good, though, LOL.

Renee, what a perfect and useful package, enjoy it all.

Annie
teresa_nc7
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Woo hoo!!! What a great box of goodies, Karen! That's the second bottle of blueberry wine for this swap. I want to try that.....(hint, hint)

Enjoy your bounteous box of gifts, Renee!

Teresa
Gina_W
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Gorgeous pottery find Karen! Love your theme and all the goodies - Wooo-Weee, Ah Garawntee Renee's gonna be cookin' up some delicious gumbo toot-sweet!
dedtired
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Another winner. I am flabbergasted by the time and attention put into these boxes. This is wonderful, Karen. Have fun Bubbe!
compumom
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What an impressive box of luscious Louisiana luxuries! Hey Bubbe, I'd be happy to take that pottery dish off your hands if you don't have enough space for it in your new digs!
Karen you win the Excellent Swap Shopper award!
arabellamiller
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oh my - that is a bounty of goodies! WHat a treat for Bubbe!

Well done, Karen, I'm impressed.

AM
momto4kids
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Renee...You're one lucky gal! I love everything and would be in the kitchen cookin' up something right now! That pepper jelly especially intrigues me! Enjoy!

Karen...What a terrific theme! Great wrapping! I love what you sent! Good job!
granjan
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
An incredible box from wrapping to eating! The dishes are adorable, the spoons wonderful and the pottery! So where is the mini in this package!
riverrat1
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oh good! Everything arrived intact! It's funny the things we worry about.

Renee, I hope you enjoy your swap box as much as I enjoyed shopping for you. Your transcript is wonderful!

This was great fun!
doucanoe
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a beautiful swap box you pack, river! Renee, I can't wait to see photos of your new creole creations! Oh, and those spoons and that pottery....WOW.

Linda
Marigene
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Wow, that is a great box of goodies Karen sent you. I'd be checking out the cookbook for something to make. Love Cajun food, especially etouffee and muffelatas!
bubbeskitchen
Original Author
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oops! I had berry confusion: it is a Blueberry Winecolor=blue>

Karen,
Everything was packed so nicely that breakage wasn't likely. I've been looking at the cookbooks and will enjoy them for some time to come. Tonight's dinner however, will not do justice to the package. It's take in night. Hopefully I will go Cajun or Creole in the next week or two. I did just clip your barbequed shrimp recipe from the dinner thread.
maggie2094
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I am blown away every time. That is one fabbo box, I guarantee!!! Beautiful wrapping, too.
paulines
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
lol @ Gina.

Holy Smokes, that's one heck of a swap package! Karen, you are an amazing woman!

Bubbe, creole chicken soup with cajun matzah balls on the menu soon? Enjoy your wonderful goodies, and let me know when you drink your blueberry wine, I'll toast you with my blueberry wine-lol
stacy3
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
now if I"m not mistaken that is the second bottle of blueberry wine already in this swap - do we have a general swap theme - lol?

Wow, Karen, you sure do know how to pack a swap box. That sounds just amazing! I love the lobster /crawfish stuff and that pottery is beautiful.

Renee, no doubt, you are capable of putting all of those goodies to good use! ANd what a fantastic description.

These packages are just over the top!

Stacy
Lars
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
That crawfish plate is too adorable! I've been to Lake Charles several times and loved the food I had there.

Looks like you will need a pirate outfit to go with that book! Does it have stories about Jean Lafitte? I love Cajuna and Creole food - I've made Jambalaya twice this month already! I'm sure you'll find many wonderful recipes in there.

Can someone explain the pass-through spoon? I'm not sure I understand it!?

Lars
bubbeskitchen
Original Author
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Lars,

It's a blending spoon basically it allows a flow-through creating a current that blends liquidy foods together sort of whisk-like albeit slower.

I'll reach into me costume box and pull out me cutlass, laddie. Aihh! The I'll check on what Laffite did eat!

R
riverrat1
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
LOL, Good description of the spoon Pirate Renee.

Lars, I've always had a pass through spoon. It never occurred to me that there would be anyone that didn't know what it was. We use the pass through spoon for cooking roux and making a gumbo or soups. It allows the fluid through, without force, in a gentle manner while stirring. Great for not breaking up lumps of crabmeat or tearing apart delicate shrimp.
Lars
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Guess I'll have to put on {{gwi:1463830}} and get a pass-through spoon to use the next time I make gumbo. Actually, I have gumbo in the freezer, but I will have to stir it when I warm it up.

I hope we hear more about the Pirate Cookbook - that's really gotten my interest!

Lars
bubbeskitchen
Original Author
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
You kill me, Lars!

We're watching a foreign language film right now and my Portuguese is as bad as my Hebrew, so I have to read. I'll check the book in a while.

Peg-Leg Bubbe
riverrat1
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Lars darlin you look fabulous! I like the blue beard touch!
craftyrn
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I love the theme-- and those dishes-- fun ! That pottery terraine/crock is beautiful . Bet those cookbooks are great reads. Karen you did your state proud with that box . Enjoy Renee .
lakeguy35
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
A little LA in NY! Super box of southern treats and treasures for Bubbe. You done good Karen!! I'm sure it will all be put to good use and enjoyed.

David
robinkateb
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Wow, who knew that i need a spoon with a gaping hole in it!! LOL! Great box and description. Enjoy.

-Robin
shaun
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oh My Goodness - that is an incredible swap package! And this is a MINI SWAP? I hope I get Karen as my swap buddie next time!

I love the pottery, just beautiful.

I'd love to hear of some recipes in that cookbook too.

The pass thru spoon is interesting! I've never seen one of those!

Enjoy Renée !
homesforsale
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a fun post!I see everyone puts a lot of thought into these swaps..

It's interesting to see the themes.. choices..packaging..

And oufits:)
blueiris24
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a great package/theme! I hope you can keep those pirates at bay -- (no pun intended, really. . . .)
finally
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Wow! Very fun package. Bubbe gets to travel in her own kitchen. Love Lar's costume. Bubbe, you need to get the upcoming album "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys" It's came from an idea hatched by director Gore Verbinski and actor Johnny Depp in the midst of shooting "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

I can just see you in your pirate garb singing "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me!" while whipping something up.

Great shopping job Karen. What a terrific Taste of Louisiana!

~finally
alison
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a wonderful package! I always thought Louisiana was one of the most warm and wonderful places I've ever been -- how nice to see it ships well, too! Conmgrats and good job!
traceys
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a great package you put together Karen. I've never heard of those spoons either but I think I need one.

Enjoy your Louisiana treats Renee. Can't wait to hear about the recipes.

Tracey
bubbeskitchen
Original Author
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I plan on taking at least one of the cookbooks to CT for the weekend if not to cook at least to read, maybe both.

Finally,
i am intrigued by the album link.
User
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a wonderful parcel!!! Karen you did a lovely job , yet again!

I'm coveting the casserole dish.
susan_in_nc
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
NICE JOB! This is so much fun reading and "looking" at all the goodies.

Susan
jessyf
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Ellen not so fast on the award to Karen until you see MY box hee hee.

Lars, I think you should kick Johnny Depp out for Pirates III.

Karen, ya done good. I love learning about the regional stuff, even if its 'traif' (not kosher LOL). Bubbe, we want a report soon on your cooking experiences with this stuff!
bubbeskitchen
Original Author
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Jessy,

Whatcha mean traif? These are kosher crawfish, from a long line of Eastern European Carp that armored themselves in the New World in order to survive . I am currently searching the Pirate's tome for crustacean carp recipes, and if you wish to witness their conversion, do come.

Oy, too much wine with dinner!!
lindainct
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Another great pachage.I've never tried Mayhaw jelly I don't think it is available around here. Renee, you've got some wonderful meals ahead.
Linda
bubbeskitchen
Original Author
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
True to my word, I brought the Pirate's Cookbook with me and tomorrow with the heat wave and all, I hope to sit down with a tall one (drink, not the man, but he is welcome too), and find a recipe to make this week.

If I had me some of my CF friends to cook for, oooooweeeee, that would be a reason to cook Ka-jun!

Lindainct,

Wish I had that Mayhaw jelly with me, forgot to pack it. Would be great with cheese, crackers and crisp white wine, yum. It's 90º here in Sherman, what's your temperature like?
debbie814
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Renee, do report back on that Mayhaw jelly. Yes, Karen did it again. I received a wonderful package from Karen in a past swap, and the girl has great taste! Enjoy your goodies.

Debbie
lindainct
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Renee,
I think we are a couple of degrees hotter here than you are in Sherman. They jelly, cheese and crackers sound great but wine makes me feel even warmer so I think I would opt for iced tea or lemonade or even ice water when it is this hot. Thank goodness when I checked the weather channel earlier it looked like we would be back to regualr summer temperature on Wednesday. We broke down today and put the air conditioner in the bedroom window. We have a whole house fan that works wonderfully when it gets cooler at night but I don't think that is happenig tonight or tomorrow. Stay cool.
Linda
KatieC
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I am so behind. Wow, Karen, what a nice theme...I love regional things. Enjoy Renée!
bubbeskitchen
Original Author
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Beastly hot weather. Actually there was a breeze albeit a 90º one today.

Spent the lion's share of it indoors. Packing stuff for our synagogue's tag sale next week, on the computer and...

tah dah, reading the Pirates Pantry. What a very cool book (I'm old!); the ladies of the Lake Charles League spent 3 years writing, editing, and testing all the recipes and proof reading. So, I can confidently report that any failures will be all mine. The recipes include many from the hunting, camping afficianados to the home cook. Histories abound. Variations are many. I already learned that a roux, derivative of French for red, can be made in infinite ways including browning flour alone in an oven, cooking and draining off excess fat, can be stored for long periods in the refridge or freezer. Wow. I gonna be a gumbo maniac, but I will skip the squirrel and dove (pigeon) recipes. Not so keep on the game. But there is a very cool recipe for duck gumbo. Who woulda thunk?

Will keep you informed of my progress as it occurs.
trixietx
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I am so far behind also, but the blackberry wine really sounds good, everything does.

Good job, Karen!

Renee, be sure and post some of those good cajun recipes!
mustangs81
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Checking back in I noticed that my original post isn't here! Shucks, I didn't say anything bad!

One of my first swaps was from Karen and it was fabulous just like this one. Great items from a great lady. I have that cook book!

Lars, What a hoot that costume is. You look like you should be on the main float at Mardi Gras.
Tikanas2
20 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a great package! I love that pottery!

Tikanas

WANTED: Received: Lovely Lousiana Lady Lavishes Luxuries

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