Egg Salad - Easy Lenten meal

One of the most memorable things that my late grandfather gave me was a love of cooking and a love of food. Pa Phil, as we affectionately called him, would sit me own in his kitchen and cook Cajun favorites for hours. He was the main cook in the house, as my grandmother wasn't very good at it (her grits were more like a dry hard sandstone than the creamy goodness they should be.) It's the one thing that I cherish the most from him, and I feel like I can pass a small piece of the great man that was my grandfather on to my daughter by sharing stories in the kitchen with her. I've decided that I will start a recipes tab on this blog for easy reference to recipes. This particular recipe is a very easy one that my grandmother first showed me how to make. It's great year around, but has been a Lenten staple for me for quite some time. Enjoy!

Egg Salad

What you'll need:

8 eggs, hard boiled and peeled

1 tablespoon mayonnaise (I'm partial to Blue Plate)

Yellow Mustard to taste (I use a quick squirt)

Salt and pepper to taste

Soft White Bread (If you are in southeast Louisiana, the only option is Evangeline Bread)

1/2 teaspoon dried parsely

Once you have your eggs boiled, cooled and peeled, place them into a bowl and get at them with a fork to make very small pieces of eggs. Add your mayonnaise, your mustard, parsely, salt and pepper and stir it all up. MAKE SURE TO TASTE and adjust accordingly. Egg Salad comes out different every time I make it.

Variations:

I like my egg salad a little more creamy so I actually add a little more mayo in the mix. I also enjoy a little added kick, as most of my Cajun counterparts do. I like to take a few slices of pickled jalepeno and finely dice it and mix it in, it also adds depth of flavor when you take a splash of the jalepeno juice and add it in. Sometimes we also add sliced green onion tops or finely diced (and I mean real fine) onion and celery. It gives it more of a "grown up" taste.

I know it seems silly to have a recipe for egg salad, I mean its one of the easiest things on the planet to make, but it's one of those things that are easily forgotten, and that my friends, is travesty. Enjoy this great application of eggs with crackers, chips, french bread, white bread, wheat bread, pita bread, lettuce or even just with a spoon. C'est si bon!

+Chad.

Habemus Papam! Papa Francis!

In two short days the Cardinals have elected from amoung their brothers the next Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God, His Holiness, Pope Francis.

By now, we should all know alot about that man that the Cardinals, by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, elected Supreme Pontiff today.  I would like to say a couple of things that impress me about him already. Noted, before today, I did not even know of his existence. So here we go.


1. Jesuit. How refreshing to have a pontiff that is a member of a religous order, it's been quite some time since we have had such a pope. It's also nice that his order is that of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a deeply spiritual man, and a very spiritual rule of Order. Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam - For the Greater Glory of God!

2. Before he gave his Urbi et Orbi Blessing, he asked the people to bless him and to pray for him. How extremely humble that the pope, one of the most revered people on this earth would ask the people of his church to first pray for him and to bless him before his official blessing. I hope this is something that he continues, much like JPII always kissed the ground upon landing in a new country.

3. He is from the America's. I know this really isnt anything that he did or anything, but how cool to have a pope from this side of the globe!

4. He picked the name Francis. We don't know what Francis he is reffering to, and the media seems to think that it is Francis of Assisi, which would be great considering the great humilty and love that he showed throughout their life.

There will be much more to talk about in the coming days about our new Holy Father, and I am excited to be a small part of that conversation here on this blog. Please engage in the conversation with me! Have something interesting about our New Holy Father? Please Share!!!

Viva Il Papa!!!

+Chad.