Mississippi’s Date of Statehood – December 10th, 1817
Mississippi and Louisiana aren’t just neighbors, they are close cousins. Their proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and their shared Cajun heritage makes for some tasty culinary crossovers! You might think of Etouffee as a distinctly New Orleans bowl of deliciousness, but Mississippi has their own claim on this tasty dish, made with Mississippi gulf shrimp, of course. Paired with a light and crisp salad, this dinner is as down home as you can get!
Tips and Tricks
- If you can get fresh shrimp (particularly fresh gulf shrimp,) that is the way to go. But, if you are getting shrimp from your local grocery store, frozen shrimp will work just fine.
- There is no need to buy the unfrozen shrimp at the grocery store seafood counter. Often, those are simply the same frozen shrimp they carry in the freezer section, just already thawed. Buy the frozen shrimp and thaw at home.
- For the best rice results, remember to let it rest, covered and off the heat, for 5 minutes or so after you’ve cooked and fluffed it with a fork. This allows the rest of the water to be absorbed and leaves you with fluffy, soft rice!
- There are two different types of paprika; sweet and smoked. For most recipes, I prefer Hungarian Sweet paprika over smoked paprika, unless the recipe specifically calls for the smoked variety. I think smoked paprika’s flavor can easily overwhelm more delicate dishes.
Shrimp Etouffee
Serves 4
- 1 lb. Mississippi Gulf Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 Cup Uncooked White Rice, prepared per package instructions and set aside
- 8 Tbs Butter
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, stem and seeds removed and chopped
- 1 Large Cloves of Garlic, peeled and diced
- 1 tsp Sweet Paprika
- 1 Can (10.5 oz.) Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 1 Cup of Water
- 1/4 tsp Salt and
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Pepper
Step 1: Place a large soup pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the butter and allow to melt. Once melted, add the chopped onion, red bell pepper, and garlic. Stir to thoroughly combine.
Step 2: Reduce the heat to low and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are very soft and the onions start to turn a gold brown.
Step 3: Add the paprika, salt, and pepper and stir to thoroughly combine. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
Step 4: Increase the heat to medium-low and add the cream of mushroom soup and 1 cup of water. Bring the liquid to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is golden brown.
Step 5: Add the shrimp to the pot and stir gently to combine. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
Step 6: Taste and add any additional salt and pepper, as desired. Remove the pot from the heat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.
Step 7: Serve the etouffee over rice.
Apple and Almond Salad with Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette
Serves 4
Salad
- 1 Package Spring Mix Salad Greens
- 1 Gala Apple, cored and chopped
- 1 Granny Smith Apple, cored and chopped
- 1 Cup Sliced Almonds
- 2 Tbs Sunflower Seeds
- 1/3 Cup Dried Cranberries
Dressing
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Tbs Honey
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
Step 2: In your serving bowls start with a bed of spring mix lettuce and then evenly distribute the apples, almonds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries in each of the bowls.
Step 3: Serve the salad cold with the dressing on the side.
Fun Facts About Mississippi: 1. Root beer was invented in Biloxi in 1898 by Edward Adolf Barq, Sr. of Biloxi Artesian Bottling Works. 2. Mississippi has more churches per capita than any other state in the country. 3. The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865, was not ratified by Mississippi until 2013. In 1995, lawmakers had finally voted to ratify the amendment, but the paperwork was never sent to the U.S. Archivist to be made official. 4. The term “teddy bear” originated in Mississippi when President Theodore Roosevelt refused to kill a trapped bear during a hunting trip near Onward, Mississippi in 1902. A Brooklyn candy shop owner saw a political cartoon depicting Roosevelt and the bear and was inspired to create a stuffed animal that he called “Teddy’s Bear.” 5. Legendary puppeteer Jim Henson was born in Greenville and spent his childhood in Leland, Mississippi. The town still honors Henson’s Mississippi roots with the Birthplace of Kermit the Frog Museum and the Rainbow Connection Bridge. 6. Pine Sol, the cleaning and deodorizing product, was developed in 1929 by chemist Harry A. Cole, who lived in a pine forest near Jackson, Mississippi. 7. In 2002, 48-year-old marathon swimmer Martin Strel swam the entire length of the Mississippi River. The 2,414-mile swim took a total of 68 days to complete.
Edible U.S. 