Support U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish

Louisiana is home to many catfish farms. Locals love to eat catfish. According to The Catfish Institute U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish is in season year round. That's right, you can purchase U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish anytime.

Recently there has been a great deal of imported catfish (BASA) and other seafood from foreign countries. Because Louisiana is a coastal state and there is a rich tradition of seafood, it is important to support local fishermen and aqua farmers. Pay attention when purchasing seafood to the Country of Origin. Look for seafood or fish that is caught or raised in the U.S. When dining out, ask the owner where the seafood comes from. You will be surprised at the answer. Make sure you patronize local restaurants that sell locally caught or raised seafood or fish.

Listing of Official U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish Processors

Ten Reasons To Choose U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish from The Catfish Institute
1. Great taste.
2. Versatile.
3. Safe.
4. Eco-friendly.
5. 100% All-American.
6. Fresh as it comes.
7. Easy to cook.
8. Nutritional powerhouse.
9. Available all year-round.
10. You’re gonna love it!

THE CATFISH INSTITUTE
P.O. Box 1669, Madison, MS 39130
601-977-9559
www.catfishinstitute.com

Links to Recipes using Catfish

Paper Sack Catfish
From Chef Martha Foose’s
Screen Doors and Sweet Tea

Catfish Ceviche
From Chef Martha Foose’s Screen Doors and Sweet Tea

Fried Catfish and Hush Puppies
From Chef Martha Foose’s
Screen Doors and Sweet Tea

Pecan-Smoked Catfish
From Chef Martha Foose’s
Screen Doors and Sweet Tea

Catfish Po-Boy
Note: * Products available thru www.galenacanning.com
Recipe by Chef Ivo W. Puidak, Galena Canning Company

Catfish Recipes from The Catfish Institute

Delicious Any Way You Cook It! (leaflet from the Catfish Institute)

Catfish Institute Recipe Book

Information about Catfish

Odom supports catfish labels
BR Advocate article

An Agricultural Law Research Project from the National Agriculture Law Center

Mississippi restaurants to label foreign catfish

FDA Detains Imports of Farm-Raised Chinese Seafood

Bayou Blends Seasoning

Red River Parish

Blended and manufactured right here in Louisiana, Bayou Blends Seasoning has been spicing up dishes with Louisiana flavor since 1999. Bayou Blends is a Certified Louisiana product as well as Certified Cajun product.

Bayou Blends is 100% ALL Natural with many varieties: Beef Rub, Chicken Rub, Pork Rub, Seafood Rub, Hot Rub, Seafood Boil, Venison Rub, Duck and Dove Rub and Quail Rub.

Locally Bayou Blends can be purchased at Bayou Walk Kroger on Youree Drive and Maxwell's Market on Line Avenue in Shreveport, Brookshire's in Natchitoches, and Rivertown in Coushatta. Shop online at www.bayoublends.com.

Bayou Blends Seasonings make great gifts for hunters, bridal showers, housewarming, Christmas, or any other occasion.

Bayou Blends Recipes

Buy Local products, support Louisiana Businesses!

Support Louisiana businesses, products and restaurants. When you get the chance, choose Louisiana products over others it benefits all of us.

Pecan Harvest Time! Get 'em before they're gone!

It's pecan time in Louisiana. From what I've been reading it is going to be a short season. According to reports, pecan crops are down from the record number in 2007.

I'm not sure if that is true or not but with the holidays coming up, who wants to take that chance. Why buy pecans from other countries when you can have homegrown pecans from right here in Louisiana.

Pecans make a great gift for any occasion: for friends and family, bridal shower gift along with recipes using pecans, corporate gifts, gifts to friends who enjoy cooking, and as Christmas gifts.

Many of these Louisiana pecan growers also have gift items, cookbooks and more. Give them a call, visit their websites, travel to their orchards and buy their products. Support our locally grown crops. Support Louisiana agriculture. Buy local, shop local.

There are several Louisiana pecan growers. The following is a listing of businesses that sell pecans:

Natchitoches Pecans, Inc., 439 Little Eva Rd., Cloutierville, LA 71416 . Natchitoches Pecans is a family run business that has been operating since 1986. When owners Julie and Mark Swanson began tending to the pecan orchard they initially knew nothing about pecans. But according to Julie since that time they have "learned a lot". Natchitoches Pecans is a 365 acre portion of Little Eva Plantation. This area is great for history lovers as the famous Clementine Hunter was born at Little Eva Plantation. It is the area that Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote about in Uncle Tom's Cabin.

In addition to selling pecans, Natchitoches Pecans has a great store where all types of pecans and gift items can be purchased. Pecans can be purchased in-shell, cracked, shelled, chocolate covered, cinnamon, honey as well as in famous candies such as old fashioned creamy pralines, pecan brittles and pecan logs. Natchitoches Pecan also carries flavored coffees: Southern Pecan and Little Eva Blend.

Cookbooks: Pecan Favorites by Rita Nichols which features over 200 recipes with pecans, Serving Louisiana, Marshes to Mansions by the Junior League of Lake Charles, Mardi Gras to Mistletoe by the Junior League of Shreveport/Bossier. There are soy candles, gift items, Fleur de Lis flags and other gift items, Mardi Gras, LSU gift items and more.

Other items in the gift shop include Clementine Hunter Ornaments by Lurline Lemieux and paintings by James Hunter, grandson of Clementine Hunter.

From October 15th through December 23rd from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Beginning in November also open on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. and January - October 22nd, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To order or for more information call 318-379-0272 or 800-572-5925
Pecans, gift boxes, gift tins, corporate gifts and flavored pecans. Recipes from Natchitoches Pecans. Visit on the web at http://www.natchitochespecans.com.


Rosalie Pecans is a family owned and operated company located on Roasalie Plantation, just south of Alexandria on the old Baton Rouge Highway. The retail pecan business began in 1999. Rosalie Pecans sells shelled pecan halves and pieces year-round; they also offer gift packs. In the fall in-shell pecans are available for purchase. Sampler boxes and tins contain halves that are prepared four ways: chocolate covered, sugared, toasted/seasoned and plain. Rosalie Pecans can take care of your entire Christmas gift list and ship gift boxes or tins for customers. Rosalie Pecans also carries several gift items including pecan-shaped massage soap, pecan crusher, and two books about pecans. A children's book, Christmas Turtles and a cookbook, In Praise of Pecans by June Jackson which contains recipes and recollections from the author.

Fall store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. Other times of the year hours are by appointment.

Visit www.rosaliepecan.com or shop their online store www.shop.rosaliepecans.com for available products. Orders can be called, emailed, faxed, mailed or placed online.
Recipes from Rosalie Pecans.

Rosalie Pecans is located at 63 Rosalie Road in Alexandria for more information call 318-448-3139.

Baskin Louisiana located in Franklin Parish is home to Company Farm Pecans. Products available include cracked and in shell pecans, holiday gift tins, gourmet gift boxes, fancy shelled pecans and fresh pecans. Harvesting begins in October and runs through January. Company Farm Pecans, located at 563 Company Farm Road, is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information or to place an order call 318-248-3400 or 866-325-1891. Pecans can be shipped anytime of year. Visit http://www.companyfarmpecans.com/ for more information.

Louisiana Pecans, 208 Little Eva Plantation, Cloutierville, LA 71416, 800-737-3226
Louisiana Pecans offers gift tins, pecan halves and pieces, gourmet flavored pecans and whole and cracked pecans. Custom gift baskets can be made for Christmas, Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, and Easter. Also available is a cookbook written by June Jackson entitled "In Praise of Pecans" that would make an excellent Christmas gift for anyone who loves pecans.

Pecans are shipped year round. The Pecan Depot is open during October, November and December. Orders for new crop whole and cracked pecans can be placed beginning the third week in October through January 15th.
Hours: October - Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Last weekend in October through Christmas - Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. http://www.louisianapecans.com

Honey Bayou Farm is located in Coushatta, Louisiana. Contact 318-932-8912 for more infomation.

Littlepage Farms, 12219 Highway 8 South, Colfax, LA 71417, 318-627-3715 or 318-481-5449, sells in shell Pecans


Minsky Pecan Market, Inc., 1214 Sparrow St., Lake Providence, LA 71254, 318-559-1614 or 1-800-646-7597. Visit on the web at www.minskywearenuts.com. Pecans, other nuts, and Louisiana products.

Ybar Farms, 250 Yantis Lane, Bunkie, LA 71322, 318-346-6495
Pecans, praline pecans, sugar pecans, salted pecans, Creole seasoned pecans, white chocolate pecans, shelled pecan halves, shelled pieces, muscadines, muscadine jelly, and Angus cattle.

Pecan Oil
Kinloch Plantation Products, L.L.C., 1304 Cornell Street, P.O. Box 1346, Winnsboro, LA 71295, 318-435-1455, www.pecanoil.com. Pecan oil

More Pecan growers may be found at this link .

Recipes from the National Pecan Shellers Association

Source: Louisiana Departement of Agriculture and Forestry, websites of pecan growers, interviews and research.

Small photo courtesy of National Pecan Shellers Association.

Louisiana Sausage & Onion Rolls Recipe with Down Home Sausage

There are great foods made right here in North Louisiana. Over the weekend my husband and I made some scrumptious sausage and onion rolls. What made these so good is that they were made with sausage from Down Home Meats in Stonewall. We were first introduced to this sausage at the home of one of my best friends. Her father cooked it out on a grill. The flavor was amazing!

Louisiana Sausage & Onion Rolls
1 lb Down Home Sausage (this comes in mild and hot flavors)
2 large yellow onions, sliced
12 small Yeast rolls (we used some frozen yeast rolls purchased at a local wholesale food club)
Butter, less than a tablespoon

Cook yeast rolls per directions.

Cut up sausage into small links, fry in skillet. Set aside and keep warm.

In same skillet melt butter and add onions. Cook until onions become soft.

Cut rolls in half, add sausage and onions. Serve.

This would be a great addition to any party, special occasion, celebration, tailgate party, or as a family dinner.

Note: It would be very easy to add bell peppers to this recipe. Cut up the bell peppers in rings and cook with onions. Use green, red or yellow bell peppers. Also, if you are feeding a crowd, just increase the amount of sausage, onions and rolls.
Recipe copyright 2008 Louisiana Trekker

Contact information on
Down Home Meats
P.O. Box 405, Stonewall, LA 71078
Telephone: (318) 925-6915 Fax: (318) 925-6930
Products: Smoked sausage, hot or mild
Source for contact information: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

Trekker for Foodies: Homemade Pancakes & Norris' Syrup

Amy’s Homemade Pancakes
My children love pancakes. This is a fast, easy recipe for homemade pancakes. The hardest part is getting the pan or griddle to the correct temperature. I cook up the entire batch and freeze the leftovers. My little ones like to help me mix the batter together. Enjoy!

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
Milk (enough to make the batter easy to pour)
2 teaspoons vanilla or vanilla nut butter (can use almond extract also)

(optional ingredients: blueberries, mini chocolate chips, be creative and enjoy.)

Mix dry ingredients into large bowl. Add egg, melted butter, and milk. Mix thoroughly with a spoon. It may be a bit lumpy but that’s normal. Add vanilla.

Heat skillet or griddle on medium high. Pour batter by ladle onto skillet or griddle. The size of the pancakes depends upon how much batter used. For little ones make little pancakes the size of a silver dollar. For adults can make larger pancakes. Turn pancakes when they start to bubble up. Heat on other side for a bit longer.

Take pancakes out of pan and spread butter on them. Serve with your favorite syrup (Mine is Norris’ Moon Shine Syrup, made right here in North Louisiana; my husband enjoys Norris’ Best Syrup it has a stronger taste). These are also good with your favorite breakfast food of sausage, bacon, eggs, ham, grits, etc.

Product information: Norris Syrup Mill, LLC, P.O. Box 2696, 227 Laird St., West Monroe, LA 71294-2696 Contact: Pat Norris or Steven Norris at 318-396-8355 or email: syrupco@jam.rr.com Products: Cane syrup and syrup products

If you have any Louisiana Recipes you'd like to share, please email me at LouisianaTrekker@gmail.com. Check back often, future posts on Louisiana Trekker will highlight other great Louisiana products.

Support Louisiana businesses, products and restaurants. When you get the chance, choose Louisiana products over others it benefits all of us.

Mrs. Lucy

My family watches Louisiana Public Television more than anything else. There are some great shows about Louisiana history, politics, art, and cuisine. One of my favorite shows, which I've been watching for many years now, is Ms. Lucy. I just love to watch Ms. Lucy cook. Most of the food that she cooks are things that I can and want to cook. Many times you see shows with cooks that cook things that are complicated or with ingredients that do not appeal to you. That's not the case with Ms. Lucy. She cooks up some yummy dishes. And of course, she cooks local, Louisiana dishes and uses Louisiana products.

Right now Ms. Lucy's show comes on on LPB at 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays. However, for those of you who do not have LPB, I recently found her show on RFD-TV on satellite TV.

Let me just run through the format of her show. Ms. Lucy is very personable. You feel like you are in her kitchen with her. She is excited about sharing her talents with you. Many of the episodes have her visiting one of Louisiana's great seafood, beef, rice or other business to promote the fine products that are grown right her in Louisiana. Then Ms. Lucy gets busy in the kitchen preparing meals using these ingredients. She makes entire meals including dessert. Her instructions are simple and straight to the point. And she has a saying that I use in my home--"All good cooks are messy cooks."

Ms. Lucy has two cookbooks that are full of Louisiana and Cajun recipes. One of my favorite desserts is Angel Cake which is in her second cookbook Classic Cajun Culture & Cooking DEUX. Her first cookbook is Ms. Lucy's Classic Cajun Culture & Cooking.

The following are some of her famous recipes:

Crawfish and Shrimp Jambalaya
http://www.lpb.org/programs/lucy/recipes/crwfsh_shrmpjmblya.html

Red Beans and Rice
http://www.mslucy.com/redb.htm-

You can order her cookbooks by writing to Lucy’s Classic Cajun, P.O. Box 3, Jones, LA 71250 or by calling 800-257-5829.