Spinach Salad with Cajun Pecans and Poppy Seed Dressing

Have a holiday party coming up and you've been selected to bring a salad? Well this is an easy yet, knock-your-socks off of recipe.  Most of it can be done days in advance so you aren't in a time crunch running out the door.  I brought it to a book club last week and it was a hit.  The dressing is homemade, but very easy if you have a food processor or blender. Also, the recipe makes a TON more dressing than needed for the salad so you will have it for weeks in your fridge.

This recipe was first posted on Tutto Bella Blog.  I was so excited when these three sisters reached out to me to do a guest post.  Their blog is a compilation of weddings, parties, fashion, decor and DIY (and everything in between).  It's truly a great place to get ideas and just raise your spirits! Check them out here!

Ingredients:


-2 bags baby spinach salad
-8 ounces pecans
-1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges (or two smaller ones), drained
-2 Tbsp olive oil
-2 Tbsp cajun seasoning (I use Tony Chachere's)
-1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

Dressing Ingredients:


-1.5 cups sugar
-1 tsp dry mustard
-3 cups (plus 1 Tbsp) vegetable oil
-1 cup apple cider vinegar
-2 Tbsp chopped white onion
-1.5 Tbsp poppy seeds

Cajun Roasted Red Potatoes

This is a great, easy side for many dinners, especially fish.  Any cajun or creole seasoning will work in this recipe.  I made this at my mom's house and she had Louisiana Cajun Seasoning.  

Ingredients:


-Red Potatoes quartered or smaller (amount depends on how many people you're serving)
-2 Tbsp of olive oil
-1 Tbsp Cajun Seasoning Blend
-salt and pepper

Crawfish Étouffée

I made this cajun-rooted dish tonight for two reasons:

1. Just in time for Fat Tuesday

2. To celebrate the adventures to come in  NOLA for one of my best friend, Lauren's, bachelortte party! 

I've always loved, but never experimented much with cajun dishes.  One of my girls here in Dallas, Erin, is from Baton Rouge, LA so I trusted this recipe to be fabulous and authentic when she gave it to me. It did not fail to be either!  Want a better reason to try it? It's super easy! Perfect for beginners. 

Ingredients:

1 pkg (12 oz/.75 lbs) Frozen Louisiana Crawfish Tail Meat (in most frozen seafood sections)

1 pkg (12 oz) Frozen Veggie Seasoning Blend (onions, celery, bell peppers = "Holy Trinity")

1 can (8 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained (optional..this was my touch)

1 bunch of green onions

4 cloves of garlic

4 heaping Tbsps of flour

4 cups chicken broth

3/4 stick of butter

1 Tbsp of Creole seasoning (I use Tony Chachere's)

1 Tbsp of Worcestershire Sauce

2 cups of instant white rice (or brown)