Author: Emily Gautreaux

Soft-shell Chargrilled Oysters

Created in the Big Easy, this recipe truly lives up to that name because it packs a big punch and is a super easy-to-make-and-eat dish that has quickly become an alternative to traditional chargrilled oysters, which are made on a half-shell. Rather than the shell, you will use a slice of French bread. One side is dipped in a sauce and the oyster is placed on top of the sauce then dressed up with cheese and green onion.

The dry side of the bread is placed directly on the grill over indirect heat. When these are done, the bottom of the bread is firm and crisp, so folks can simply pick the treat up off a platter and chow down. Below you will find the oyster and special sauce recipe.  Enjoy, Cher!

 

Ingredients

(Makes around 2 dozen)

24 to 48 raw oysters, depending on size
1 long loaf French bread, enough to slice 24 1-1/2- to 2-inch-thick pieces
For sauce
3/4 pound butter
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon hot sauce, or to taste
3 teaspoons white vinegar
3 tablespoons molasses
1/2 teaspoons paprika
3 teaspoons Worcestershire
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
To top and assemble
1 pound to 3/4 pounds cheese, grated
Creole seasoning, to taste
4 to 6 green onions, coarsely chopped
4 or 5 fresh lemons

Preparation

Shuck oysters, or buy them un-shucked.  Slice French bread on an angle, or bias, into 1/2-inch slices.

Make sauce: Combine butter, garlic, hot sauce, vinegar, molasses, Worcestershire in a bowl and cook over low heat just until the butter is melted. Wait 5 minutes, then add parsley, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Pour sauce into a shallow side pan or bowl. Allow sauce to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.  Place bread slices on sheet pans. Dip one side of bread slice into the sauce. Place it dry side down on the sheet pan. Continue until all slices are dipped. (Only dip one side, so that the bottom of the bread can get crisp and firm, making the oysters easier to manage.)  Lift oysters out of oyster liquid and allow to drip for a few seconds. Place an oyster on top of each bread slice. If oysters are small, put 2 on each slice. Sprinkle Creole seasoning on each oyster, to taste. Top each with a generous tablespoon of grated cheese. Sprinkle chopped green onions op top.  Preheat grill or oven to 350 degrees.

If using oven, slide sheet pans into oven and bake about 30 minutes, checking after 15 minutes.

If grilling, use indirect heat by pushing coals to other side of grill; then place bread directly on the grill. Close grill and allow to cook for about 30 minutes, checking after 15 minutes.  Oysters are done when bread just starts to brown and cheese bubbles. Oysters will be hot, so allow to sit for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice on top and serve.

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Is There a Nontraditional Student Anymore?

Just what is a “traditional” and a “nontraditional” college student these days?  It seems that more and more people are going back to school as parents, taking a “gap year” after high school, and making other life decisions that used to not be the norm.  Popular culture tells us that college students are recent high school graduates, living on campus, taking remedial classes, and (hopefully) graduating four years later. But these days that narrative of the residential, collegiate experience is way off, says Alexandria Walton Radford, who heads up postsecondary education research at RTI International in North Carolina. Today’s college student is decidedly nontraditional — and has been for a while. Radford has done a lot of research on this and defines the nontraditional student as having one or more of the following characteristics:

Financially independent from their parents
Having a child or other dependent
Being a single caregiver
Lacking a traditional high school diploma
Delaying postsecondary enrollment
Attending school part time
Being employed full time

Close to 74 percent of undergrads fall into one of these categories — and about a third have two or three. Here’s a snapshot of the 17 million Americans enrolled in undergraduate higher education, according to numbers culled by the National Center for Education Statistics.

1 in 5 is at least 30 years old
About half are financially independent from their parents
1 in 4 is caring for a child
47 percent go to school part time at some point
A quarter take a year off before starting school
2 out of 5 attend a two-year community college
44 percent have parents who never completed a bachelor’s degree

As demographics shift, Radford argues, policy should follow. It’s vital that institutions look at the characteristics of their undergrad cohorts, she adds, to explore how to address their students’ unique concerns. Perhaps that means offering services like financial aid, advising or tutoring after-hours (instead of the typical 9 to 5). Maybe it means offering child care for student-parents, or extra parking for commuters. One thing for sure, says Radford, is that it’s probably time to coin a new phrase for nontraditional students, considering they are the new norm. Click here to read more.

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6 Quick Road Trips To Take In Louisiana

With Fall approaching and the weather slowly but surely starting to cool down, there has never been a better time to take a Louisiana road trip and explore all there is around the state. In this article, written by onlyinyourstate.com, you will find 6 amazing places in Louisiana that are a must visit.

  1. Drive the Creole Nature Trail.

The Creole Nature Trail is a 180-mile All-American Road that will take you through the southwestern part of the state. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to view tons of wildlife, bayous, marshes, over 25 miles of Gulf of Mexico beaches, and a thriving Cajun culture. Stop off along the way to enjoy an authentic Cajun meal before taking one of the most scenic drives in Louisiana.

  1. Get lost in Kisatchie National Forest.

Louisiana’s only national forest is comprised of over 600,000 acres of beautiful pines and hardwood bottoms scattered across seven parishes in central and northern Louisiana. The rolling hills and the beautiful scenery is just the ticket for anyone looking to immerse themselves in nature for a few days. There are numerous hiking trails, so bring a tent and set out on a camping adventure you won’t soon forget.

  1. Cruise down one of Louisiana’s scenic byways.

For a true road-trip experience, head down one of Louisiana’s 18 scenic byways for a unique adventure. From the northern Boom or Bust Byway to the southeast’s Wetlands Cultural Byway, you’re sure to have a memorable time traveling down these roads. Check out our previous feature article here to learn more about Louisiana’s scenic byways.

  1. Tour some plantations.

The stretch of River Road from New Orleans to Baton Rouge is peppered with historic plantations, canopies of ancient oaks, and delightful views of the Mighty Mississippi. Stop off at a couple of plantations to take a tour and learn the history, or just take a joy ride down the historic road to admire the lovely architecture and beautiful surroundings.

 

For the final two must take road trips in Louisiana, click here.

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Frugally Traveling the Irish Coast

The Irish Coast lends itself to spectacular sights and experiences that one would think would cost an arm and a leg- not so! Start out at Kai restaurant, in Galway, which is a welcoming, cozy place headed by a New Zealand chef, Jessica Murphy.  Grab a coffee and a scone to fuel up for the day and you are only out a few dollars. Head towards Galway, considered by many the cultural backbone of Ireland to visit the Galway Cathedral. It’s free but paying the suggested donation of 2 euros won’t put you out…it’s a little over 2 American dollars. Explore the charming Galway by foot and when you get hungry, stop at Kai, a welcoming, cozy place headed by a New Zealand chef, Jessica Murphy. A delicious bowl of carrot and miso soup was only 5 euros and came with a thick slice of dense, multigrain bread, that probably would have sufficed as a small meal. Next, head over to the charmingly ramshackle bookshop Bell, Book and Candle and receive a quick lesson in literary history from the owner, Paul Deacy. For about 6 euros you can buy 2 books to read while on vacay. Quay and Shop Streets teem with pedestrians, shops and street musicians- all free entertainment and people watching!  After that, take off for a scenic drive. If you spend any amount of time driving in Ireland, you’ll be spoiled by the number of beautiful old castles you pass, but Dunguaire Castle, in the southeastern corner of Galway Bay, is one of the stateliest. After walking the grounds, it was onto one of the true natural wonders of Ireland: The possibly bewitched Cliffs of Moher. They’re easy enough to find: Just follow the road signs, pull into the big lot and pay the 8-euro admission (4 euros if you book online in advance like all the other tourists). But go beyond the tour buses and continue south, and you’ll notice signs for an alternate parking lot that claims to get you closest to the actual cliffs. It’s slightly tricky, but continue until you find Liscannor Walk and a small private lot, where you’ll pay just 2 euros to park. It’s a manageable uphill walk to the cliffs from there, along a stone wall and past curious cows as you make your way toward the water.  Watch the sunset from there, basking in your financially guilt-free day.

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Sweet and Spicy Roast Chicken

This sweet and spicy roast chicken has just enough summer sass and the perfect amount of spicy heat. Its Chile-honey marinade gives this chicken its fiery, syrupy character. Dates and carrots give the sauce texture and additional sweetness while a garnish of pistachios gives it a nice crunch. It’s dinner party food at its most flavorful and convenient; the ingredients can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance, then all you need to do is pop it in the oven just before your guests arrive, and garnish it at the last minute. Serve it with couscous, polenta, rice or another soft grain to soak up the sauce.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lemon, plus 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, more for pot
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoons whole grain mustard
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
  •  Black pepper, to taste
  • 1 4-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
  • 3 cups sliced carrots (1/4-inch thick)
  • 1 onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • ⅔ cup sliced dates
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro or parsley, for garnish
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
  • ¼ cup chopped toasted pistachio nuts, for garnish

PREPARATION

  1. Quarter the lemon and remove seeds. Thinly slice crosswise into small wedges and add to small pot of boiling, salted water. Blanch for 2 minutes and drain. Reserve slices.
  2. In a saucepan, whisk together lemon juice, orange juice, oil, mustard, honey, salt, bay leaf, red pepper flakes and black pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool.
  3. Put chicken in a bowl and add honey mixture. Add carrots, onion, dates, thyme and blanched lemon slices. Turn mixture several times to coat. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, but preferably overnight in the refrigerator.
  4. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Transfer all ingredients, including marinade, to a sheet pan with a rim. Chicken should be skin side up. Roast until chicken is browned and cooked through, about 20 to 30 minutes for breasts and 30 to 40 for legs and wings (remove the pieces as they are done cooking). When the chicken is done, give the carrot mixture in the pan a stir; if the pan looks dry add 2 to 3 tablespoons water. Continue roasting the carrots until they are tender, about 7 to 12 minutes longer.
  5. Spoon carrots over chicken and top with cilantro, scallions and pistachio nuts.

 

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Best Heritage Hotels of Asia

Many of Asia’s most beautiful heritage hotels emerged during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Here, we take a travel through time to explore the top 2 of the region’s most stately places to rest your head:

Raffles Singapore

Originally opened in 1887 by the four brothers, the hotel has welcomed every manner of celebrity and diplomat over the years. It’s so rooted in Singapore history that the government declared the building a protected National Monument in 1987. From gleaming wooden floors to open courtyard gardens, luxurious afternoon tea sets and spacious suites, the hotel has long been associated with old-world comforts. This year, international architecture firm Aedas is leading the ultra-sensitive renovation project. The plan aims to re-imagine the social areas and dining experiences, refresh suites with updated technology and incorporate long overdue amenities — such as soundproof bedroom windows — while retaining the building’s beautiful old bones.

The Peninsula, Hong Kong

If the fleet of custom “Peninsula Green” Rolls-Royces in the driveway and white-capped pageboys standing guard by the door are any indication, The Peninsula has long been a top meeting place for Hong Kong’s upper crust.  It’s also one of the oldest hotels in the territory. The Pen, as it’s nicknamed, opened in 1928, overlooking Victoria Harbour from its prestigious plot in Tsim Sha Tsui. Around the property, Old World charm meets avant-garde atmosphere. The guestrooms have a more modern feel, thanks to a round of renovations completed in 2012. However, certain corners still feel like they’ve been locked in time. The high ceilings and French atmosphere come with grand chandeliers, leisurely lunches and white-gloved service.

Likewise, the ornate Lobby Lounge serves elegant afternoon tea sets soundtracked by a live string quartet, while Spring Moon has been a bastion of Cantonese fine-dining since it opened in 1986.

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