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One of North America’s First Cities is Close than You Think and Available for Tours

Nola.com has recently released this article which talks about a historical landmark near a present-day village named Epps which is located in West Carroll Parish. Why would you want to take a trip there? A story of history and still many questions that this area holds. Researchers have found that the area dates back “to a time in which an ancient civilization of American Indian hunter-gathers built and lived among a series of massive earthworks along the Mississippi River”.

Nola.com goes on to explain, “Though unprotected for years — plowed over by farmers, looted by collectors and overlooked by experts — the site is now safeguarded and under study by archeologists. Visitors can tour an interpretive center, where a number of artifacts from the site are on view, and take a guided tour of the mounds. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day”.

If you are interested in learning more about the history of this city, click here.

Sunday Rib Roast

Are you looking for something to cook for your holiday celebration? This rib roast could be perfect for you Christmas Eve Sunday party you have planned this year.

For a special ‘cook’s note’ and the directions to make a mustard horseradish sauce to top it off with, click here.

Ingredients

One 3-rib standing rib roast (7 to 8 pounds)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Mustard Horseradish Sauce

Directions

Two hours before roasting, remove the meat from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (see Cook’s Note).

Place the oven rack on the second-lowest position.

Place the roast in a pan large enough to hold it comfortably, bone-side down, and spread the top thickly with the salt and pepper. Roast the meat for 45 minutes. Without removing the meat from the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and roast for another 30 minutes. Finally, increase the temperature to 450 degrees F and roast for another 15 to 30 minutes, until the internal temperature of the meat is 125 degrees F. (Be sure the thermometer is exactly in the center of the roast.) The total cooking time will be between 1 1/2 and 1 3/4 hours. Meanwhile, make the sauce.

Remove the roast from the oven and transfer it to a cutting board. Cover it tightly with aluminum foil and allow the meat to rest for 20 minutes. Carve and serve with the sauce.

Atchafalaya River Sediment Diversion Project in Concept Phase

Mississippiriverdelta.org is a great resource for updates on coastal restoration projects. One of the newest projects that is being discussed and is still in the concept phase is the sediment diversion development that is to be constructed off the Atchafalaya River and will provide basin-wide benefits to marshes in southwest Terrebonne Parish.

As stated by mississippiriverdelta.org, “This project will have the greatest benefits to freshwater habitats, such as forested areas, flotant and fresh and intermediate marsh, which are threatened by saltwater intrusion and sediment starvation.”

For more information, on this plan and to read the full article, you can click here.

Two Louisiana Universities Selected for Co-Chair Educator Research Consortium

On Monday, December 11, 2017, the Louisiana Department of Education announced that LSU and the University of Louisiana in Lafayette have been chosen to chair the Louisiana Educator Research Consortium, a network of teacher preparation providers from across the state interested in conducting research relative to educator preparation.

According to the Louisiana Department of Education, LSU and ULL will serve as co-chairs of the Louisiana Educator Research Consortium for five years. LSU and ULL will initially be tasked with:

Establishing the process whereby an advisory board and member institutions are chosen, and choosing the board and member institutions;
Setting the research agenda for 2018-2019, in consultation with the steering committee and the advisory board; and
Organizing at least two meetings by April 2018 during which the advisory board will provide feedback on proposals relative to the Louisiana Teacher Preparation Quality Rating System, a system established by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) in June 2017 to provide preparation providers with meaningful information for improvement, as required by federal regulations.

For more information on the long-term effects of this decision, you can read the full article, here.

Visit This Village in Louisiana for an Old-Fashioned Christmas Experience

For almost 100 years, Natchitoches, Louisiana has been hosting a beautiful Christmas experience that is said to be one of the best Christmas displays in the country. It has drawn thousands of visitors from around the United States since it first began in 1927.

In a recent article written by onlyinyourstate.com, that you can find here, it is stated that the Natchitoches holiday event began when Max Burgdorf, the Superintendent of Utilities for the City of Natchitoches, decided to purchase enough Christmas lights to string along Front Street. And just like that, 90 years later it has grown to be one of the state’s largest attractions that includes more than 300,000 lights each year.

13 Holiday Butter Recipes

You heard that right… BUTTER recipes! From honey almond butter to pumpkin butter and walnut cranberry butter! These recipes are great to use for holiday get-togethers’ if you are in charge of appetizers and are looking to spice things up this year. They go perfectly with rolls, cheese and crackers, biscuits, and fruits. Butter really does make everything better!

Below you will find the recipe for cinnamon expresso butter, but to find the other 12 recipes, you can click here.

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
2 teaspoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, combine the coffee granules, water and vanilla. In a small bowl, cream the butter, confectioners’ sugar, and cinnamon until light and fluffy. Add coffee mixture; beat until smooth. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Yield: 1/2 cup.