Mr. Lake's New Orleans Forum

We did our Bastille Day celebration on Sunday. It was PC's "last meal" before he went on clear liquids in prep for the procedure later this morning. So, while I didn't go nuts table-scaping, I think we did alright with the food. Here we go:

Peruvian ceviche to start. I know, not very French, but I told you I was ruled by what's in the fridge, and there were limes to use up! PC made this - it was wonderful. Mahi mahi, lime, cilantro, onions, and a superchile from my garden.

Now we get French. I pulled two recipes out from a written-in-French cookbook I bought at a yard sale for a buck. I suppose I didn't actually follow the recipes since I only understood about 70% of them (too lazy to break out the dictionary). Veal chops stuffed with ham and gruyere and topped with some gruyere, finished in the broiler; and twice-baked potatoes, stuffed with the potato, of course, mixed with creme fraiche and morels (the splurge of the meal) that were sauteed in butter and deglazed with red wine. Green beans were sauteed with shallots, evoo and lemon.

For dessert, PC was inspired by Alton Brown, who did these fruit pouches on the grill. Peaches, nectarines (supposed to be plums and apricots) with some crushed gingersnaps, brandy, lime; topped with creme fraiche. It was delicious!

Great, collaborative meal. Last night was the antithesis. PC had consomme (albeit morel mushroom consomme) and I ate Boca Burgers for dinner.

Good lord, what a sendoff! That is gorgeous.
Hope all goes well today -

Looks great, where did you find morels? Were they fresh or dried ones?

Looks wonderful, and a team effort, I just love it!

Good luck PC

The ceviche looks great. We will be taking a charter soon so I'll have lots of fresh fish to play with. Good luck PC!

Everybody in Lake Charles is in his corner. Send us good news I hope

That meal looks fabulous! And sounds fabulous!

Good news it is, at least we're through this leg. All went as expected and he looks great and feels pretty good (a little sore). My food reference is that his first meal post-"op" was a can of Healthy Choice Chicken Fiesta Soup and some fancy crackers. He pronounced it "pretty good." Me, I haven't eaten yet - too much adrenaline.

Thanks to all our friends for prayers, good thoughts, support.

Msriv, they were dried morels. $10.99 for 3/4 oz, hence my splurge comment! I soaked them before sauteeing them.

I'm off to the pharmacy.

A recent expedition to Central Market we found fresh morels for $90 a pound. My cousin who lived in Michigan for years bought some. The next day her sister in law called and said that morels were popping up in her yard in Michigan

Gorgeous just gorgeous. I want anything ( except maybe a Martini) that comes in a Martini glass. Looks like you put me to shame. I didn't even think about cooking French. I am such a disappointment. J'en suis desolee. ( I use imaginary accents)