Author: Emily Gautreaux

Crispy and Spicy Maple Wasabi Wing Recipe

Have you ever wanted to create a unique and delicious dish in the comfort of your own home, but thought it was too difficult or time-consuming? Well, fear not! This maple-wasabi wing recipe from Epicurious is proof that you can make an extraordinary meal with only the ingredients found in your average refrigerator. Get ready for some serious flavor explosions – we’ll be combining sticky, spicy, sweet, and salty flavors together in this incredibly tasty recipe.

Ingredients for wing recipe

Directions for wing recipe

  1. In order to start this recipe for delicious maple-wasabi chicken wings, you’ll want to prepare your oven byplacing racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven. Preheat the oven to 450°F and line two large rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil and place a wire rack in each one. You should then spray both wire racks withnonstick vegetable oil spray.
  2. Take your chicken wings, separate the flats from the drumettes, and remove the wing tips. Place them on a stack of paper towels and dry them with an extra layer or two of paper towels. Place the wings into a large bowl.
  3. Sprinkle your baking powder, salt, and freshly ground white paper over the wings evenly and toss them in order to coat them entirely. After your flats and drumettes with an even coat, allow the wings to sit at room temperature for one hour prior to baking. Alternatively, you can let them chill uncovered for up to 12 hours, but you should still let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour prior to baking.
  4. Once your oven is properly preheated, you’ll divide the wings between your two prepared racks while taking care to not overcrowd either rack with too many wings. Bake the wings for 25 minutes in total. Halfway through, turn your wings over and rotate the baking sheets top to bottom and front to back so that the wings cook evenly. You should then continue to bake the wings until they have a golden brown coloration, are crispy, and are cooked through, meaning that an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the wing while avoiding bone should register at 165°F (or 10-15 minutes).
  5. For your wing sauce, you will want to whisk either your peeled and finely grated piece of ginger or your ginger paste, your one-third cup of pure maple syrup, your 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 2 teaspoons of sesame chili oil into a small saucepan in order to combine them. Bring this to a simmer over medium-low heat, while whisking occasionally.
  6. Cook the wing sauce, while occasionally whisking until the sauce is reduced by about half and is thick enough to fully coat a submerged spoon. This should take approximately 8-10 minutes. Once finished, remove the sauce from the heat and add your tablespoon of chilled, unsalted butter. Whisk the butter into the sauce until it’s fully incorporated and your sauce is smooth and glossy.
  7. Once you’re ready to drench your wings in sauce, you’ll whisk your 2 teaspoons of wasabi paste into the sauce. At this point, taste the sauce and add up to another teaspoon of wasabi paste until it’s at your desired spice level. Transfer your wings to a large metal bowl, pour your sauce over the wigs, and toss them until they’re all evenly coated.
  8. Arrange the wings on a platter, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over them, and enjoy!

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Project that will Revitalize Louisiana’s Second-Largest Swamp Moves Forward

A project to revitalize a large portion of Louisiana’s second-largest swamp is moving forward after decades of discussion, according to this detailed article from Nola.com. Maurepas Swamp is the sheer picturesque definition of what the ideal Louisiana swamp looks like. It covers a vast area between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and according to project manager Brad Miller, “it’s been dying for almost a century now, and the thing with swamps is, it happens really, really slow.”

Thankfully, the project that will account for the revitalization of Maurepas Swamp is expected to begin in the next few months. The project will reportedly involve the injection of freshwater from the Mississippi River into the swamp for sustainability. The aim of the project is to improve the region, which is expected to benefit approximately 45,000 acres, while also reviving an ecosystem that used to be a bountiful and prime spot for wildlife.

Projects of this type and sort are quite important for Louisiana, as they are capable and able of knocking down storm surges during hurricane season. Gary Shaffer is a professor at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, and he said the following when speaking on the subject: “if you’re interested in hurricane protection, that’s the way to go – to build swamp.” Shaffer has studied the area affected by the project, and he has advocated for the revitalization project for over 20 years.

Essentially, this project is something of a river diversion, but in essence, it differs greatly from the planned large-scale diversions that are aimed at rebuilding coastal land, as this one will be relatively small, capable of channeling 2,000 cubic feet per second. Additionally, a new two-mile channel that will be constructed near Garyville will direct the water into the Hope Canal, then into an outfall area in the swamp located north of Interstate 10. Overall, this construction is expected to take about four years and will be done in conjunction with the nearby levee project,  known as the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Protection System.

This project is expected to reconnect Maurepas Swamp to the Mississippi River and the nutrients it once provided. Now, the levees hold the river in place instead of allowing its waters to overflow and its course to meander, which is what happened earlier in history. This traditional method was vital to keeping the region from flooding, but it badly damaged the wetlands and coastal marsh. A coastal scientist with the National Wildlife Federation, Alish Renfro said, “this is a huge deal. It’s 20 years in the making to actually get us here.”

Construction on the project is expected to begin in Summer 2023 at a total cost estimate of approximately $300 million, but as Miller and Shaffer can attest, it was tough for the project to move forward for quite some time until intervention by the Army Corps of Engineers.

As it was, last month, the Army Corps of Engineers had announced that they will allow the project to revitalize Maurepas Swamp to move forward if it also serves as mitigation for the environmental damage that has been caused by the construction of a major levee project in the nearby area, otherwise known as the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Protection System. This also allowed for Louisiana’s 35% share cost of the levee project bill to be lowered.

Additionally, the revitalization project’s momentum was also aided by settlement money related to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, as this settlement amount will reportedly pay for about two-thirds of the samp project with the state of Louisiana covering the remainder.

For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.

Louisiana Teacher Retention on the Rise According to Louisiana Educator Workforce Report

It was recently revealed by the 2021-2022 Educator Workforce Snapshot that more teachers in Louisiana are choosing to remain in the education profession and that the percentage of certified educators is trending upwards, according to this news release from the Louisiana Department of Education.  Teacher retention has been a topic of conversation for quite some time so this report is promising for the state’s education system.

The LDOE recently released the 2021-2022 Educator Workforce Snapshot, which is a statistical snapshot that provides an overview of “workforce data” for Louisiana’s 1394 traditional public schools. The snapshot was obtained using data from the End-of-Year (EOY) data from the recently concluded 2021-2022 school year. LDOE describes the purpose of the data “is to communicate annual workforce data and trends to stakeholders and to support decision making for statewide improvements regarding recruitment and retention.”

The Educator Workforce Snapshot provided a wide array of updates and data on both teachers and students in the 2021-2022 school year, but the following were pointed out as being the main highlights of the report: Louisiana’s overall teacher retention, certified teacher percentage, and diversity of teacher workforce had increases two points a piece. Overall teacher retention is now at 86%, whereas first-year teacher retention has increased five points to 83%. The percentage of Louisiana teachers who are certified had increased to 69% of all teachers, and the diversity rate of the state’s teacher workforce has increased to 29%.

With this upward trend in teacher retention across the state for both new and veteran teachers, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley commented by saying, “this is an enlightening report that shows Louisiana’s comprehensive recruitment and retention plan is working. Even with this early progress, we must remain laser-focused. Every educator deserves quality pay, strong leadership, and to be valued as professionals. This encouraging data is early proof of what can happen when you listen to teachers and create an environment where their voice matters.”

Additionally, the 2021-2022 Educator Workforce Snapshot also revealed that the average teacher salary in Louisiana has increased by $1,268 to $52,174. Along with compensation information for teachers, assistant principals, and principals, the Snapshot also had demographic information pertaining to ethnicity and gender listed for teachers as well as students. The certification date for teachers was further classified by whether or not the certified or uncertified teachers were teaching in a subject with a high-stakes state assessment, in a school evaluated with a high or low letter grade, and by subject area.

Louisiana has put a lot of effort towards its comprehensive recruitment and retention in recent history. Firstly, the past year saw a pay increase for teachers and support staff, as teachers saw a $1,500 pay increase approved and support staff saw a $750 increase in salary. Additionally, veteran teachers applying to be a Mentor Teacher for the school year were given a $2000 stipend for their additional responsibility.

Other actions taken to increase teacher recruitment and retention were that LDOE had recently collaborated on new legislation that allows for professionals with a master’s degree in any field to be able to enter the classroom as a teacher. Also, the 2022 Regular Legislative Session established the Geaux Teach Fund, which allocated $5 million for the purpose of awarding scholarships to high school students who are a part of a teacher preparation program.

Also, LDOE created the first Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council, which saw 22 educators chosen from nearly 900 applications to serve on the inaugural council. The council will consist of a cohort of educators who will meet with Dr. Brumley once a quarter to share their feedback on current education initiatives and to offer insight on how Louisiana can help to improve student outcomes.

For more education-related information, click here.

Delicious Recipe for Louisiana Shrimp and Crab Stew

Wintertime means that it’s the perfect time of the year to whip up some classic Louisiana recipes. So, if you’re in the mood for a hearty, rich, and delicious shrimp and crab stew, then look no further than this recipe from Louisiana Cookin’.

Ingredients for Shrimp and Crab Stew 

Directions for Shrimp and Crab Stew

  1. You’ll want to begin this recipe by scalding your dozen blue crabs with hot water in order to stun them. You’ll then remove the back from each crab (which is the top shell) so that you can clean out the gills (also affectionately referred to as “dead man fingers”), lungs, and the center of each crab. Afterward, crack the crabs in half and remove the claws, placing them aside for a future seafood stock. You’ll also want to peel and devein your shrimp for this recipe. You can also put the shrimp heads and shells along with your crab claws for a future homemade seafood stock.
  2. Next, in the large heavy stockpot, you’ll want to combine your vegetable oil and flour over medium heat. Begin stirring slowly to make a dark brown roux, and continue stirring for about 15-20 minutes. Once your roux is of a dark brown coloration all over, you’ll add your celery, bell peppers, and onion (also known as the holy trinity in South Louisiana cooking circles). You’ll cook the vegetables in the roux until the vegetables are soft, which should take about 5 minutes if you are stirring frequently.
  3. After the vegetables are soft, add your bay leaves, salt, cayenne pepper, and seafood stock to your stockpot. Stir all of the ingredients in order to combine them, and bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the stew ingredients and base are boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, add in your crabs, and let them simmer for approximately 20 minutes.
  4. Next, add your crabmeat and shrimp, and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Remove the stockpot from the heat, add your parsley, and serve the dish hot. Enjoy!

Notes for Shrimp and Crab Stew:

  • To make cooking easier and more humane, place your live crabs in the freezer for about 15 minutes before preparing them. Fill your largest stock pot with heavily salted water and add 3 bay leaves, a tablespoon or so of black peppercorns, and a teaspoon of paprika. Bring the water to a boil and then, using a pair of tongs, grasp each crab from behind so you don’t get pinched. Depending on the pot’s size and the number of crabs being cooked, you may want to cook one at a time. Lower each crab into the boiling water with its legs facing down and allow it to cook for roughly 15 minutes (when it floats to the top give an extra two to three minutes). To cool off after cooking, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with cold water and ice cubes then drop in each crab briefly before beginning the cleaning process.
  • Crab and shrimp stews definitely pair nicely alongside some homemade potato salad, french bread, or rice.

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Enjoy a Weekend in Alabama

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway in the great state of Alabama, then you’re in luck with this excellent, detailed, and informative travel guide from Southern Living. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Alabama has plenty of great places to explore. From hiking to boating and camping, there’s something for everyone in this historic, cultural epicenter of the American South. So pack your bags and read on to discover the magic of Alabama.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin is a picturesque lake in Tallapoosa County, Alabama It has become a weekend getaway for many of Birmingham, Montgomery, and even Atlanta, as it has become known for its clear water and beautiful scenery. The lake is home to a variety of fish, including bass, catfish, crappie, and bream. There are also several species of turtles and snakes. The lake is popular for swimming, boating, fishing, and camping. There are several public beaches and boat ramps on the lake. Wind Creek State Park offers a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, picnicking, and fishing. Also, if you’re visiting in the summertime, you can check out the array of float-up restaurants on boats that are popular that time of year!

Guntersville, Alabama

Situated among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Guntersville is a scenic spot for a weekend getaway in Alabama. The city offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and boating. There are also several historic sites to explore, such as the Guntersville Museum and Cultural Center. For a taste of the local culture, be sure to check out the Guntersville Farmers Market and the city’s annual ArtsFest.

Fairhope, Alabama

The quaint town of Fairhope, Alabama is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. The charming downtown area is full of boutique shops and local restaurants, and the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches are just a short drive away. There are plenty of things to do in Fairhope, from exploring the aquatic life via canoe or paddle boat along the Bartram Canoe Trail to exploring the natural wonders at the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.. And with fair weather year-round, it’s the perfect place to escape the cold winters up north.

Dauphin island, Alabama

Reached by way of a three-mile-long high-rise bridge, Dauphin Island is a beautiful barrier island off the coast of Alabama. It is known for its sandy beaches, clear Gulf waters, and charming small-town atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, shelling, and bird watching.

Florence And Muscle Shoals, Alabama

If you’re looking for a town inundated in Music History and American legacy, then look no further than the towns of Muscle Shoals and Florence. Muscle Shoals is located in northwest Alabama along the Tennessee River, and the city is home to the infamous FAME Studios, which is a must-see for music fans, as legends like Aretha Franklin and Etta James have recorded their music there. The city of Florence is located just south of Muscle Shoals. Like its northern neighbor, Florence is also home to a number of historic landmarks such as Helen Keller’s birthplace and housing theFrank Lloyd Wright house.

In addition to its musical history, Muscle Shoals and Florence are each also home to a vibrant arts scene. Muscle Shoals’s Downtown Arts District is home to a number of galleries, shops, and restaurants. Florence also has a thriving arts community, with several galleries and museums to explore. So, whether you’re a music fan or an art lover, Muscle Shoals and Florence are sure to offer something for everyone. So take a weekend trip and explore all that these two Alabama cities have to offer!

For more travel-related news and information, click here.

The Lewis and Clark Trail Offers History, Adventure, and Scenery

If you’re looking for a unique, historical adventure in the St. Louis area that is devoid of the noise associated with any large metropolitan area, then look no further than the Lewis and Clark Trail, and thanks to this travel guide from Midwest Living, it’s never been easier. From breathtaking scenery to fascinating stories of the early 19th century, this trail offers it all, allowing you to explore the history of America’s western frontier as you hike, bike, or drive your way along the trail. Learn all about Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s 1803-1806 expedition that opened up the west and changed history forever by traversing this trail today.

Part of the National Trails System, the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail is nearly 4,900 miles in total length, and it extends through the homelands of over 60 Tribal nations as it follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806. In total, the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail begins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and traverses through a total of sixteen states to the Pacific Ocean. The trail extends through portions of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.

While the complete trail is intimidatingly extensive to fully explore, Midwest Living suggests that if you are staying near St. Louis, Missouri that you check out the nearby portion of the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail, as it offers a lot of history, scenery, and peace without taking a three-year journey.

One of the best reasons to stop by the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail is to see the spectacular views of St. Louis, its landmarks, and the nearby scenery from the many vantage points that the trail offers. One such observable point is the mighty Missouri River. This is due to the fact that the trail follows the Missouri River from its confluence with the Mississippi River to the Mandan Villages in North Dakota. The trail is also a great place to simply enjoy the outdoors, as there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, fishing, and camping along the way. And if you’re looking for a challenge, you can even try your hand at paddling a canoe or kayak down the river.

While traversing the trail, visitors can see many important historic sites, including the Council Bluffs where Lewis and Clark met with the Otoe-Missouria tribe in 1804, and Fort Mandan, their winter headquarters. Additionally, the trail offers an excellent view of the St. Louis Gateway Arch, as the landmark is a mere 33.6 miles away.

The Lewis and Clark trailhead is located on the east side of MO94, and once you approach the trailhead sign, you’ll notice that the trail is divided into two trails: the Lewis Trail and The Clark Trail. The ClarkTrail stands at a length of 5.3 miles, and it takes approximately 3 hours to traverse, so this might be the trail to take for the more inexperienced hikers. Alternatively, The Lewis Trail is recorded at a length of 8.2 Miles, and it takes approximately 5 hours to traverse, so this might be the hiking choice for those more experienced.

Outside of this trail, there are plenty of other places to visit near St. Louis to learn more about history and see fantastic sights. Nearby, visitors can explore the Museum of Westward Expansion, which tells the story of Lewis and Clark’s journey west. The museum features exhibits on Native American culture, pioneer life, and the natural history of the region. There is also a theater where visitors can watch a short film about Lewis and Clark’s expedition.

For more travel-related news and information, click here.