Emily Gautreaux, Author at Arlen "Benny" Cenac Jr

The Best Sunset Hikes in the Country

A proper hike can be a lot of things: challenging, exciting, exhausting, rewarding, and even encouraging, but time and time again no matter how many obstacles you overcome along the trail on your excursion, nothing beats experiencing the golden hour of a memorable sunset hike as a reward for your hard work. Luckily, this article from Travel + Leisure outlines over a dozen hiking trails across the United States that are both rewarding as an individual hiking experience and a perfect vantage point to witness a one-of-a-kind sunset.

Although there are new reports coming down the wire each week about more and more states scaling back in their Covid-19 restrictions, it’s still a proactive and well-advised idea to research the individual pandemic policies of the national and state parks listed on this list to see if there are any closed-off areas, experiences, or operating hours due to the pandemic. Furthermore, it’s always a responsible practice to check local travel advisories, city ordinances, andstate mandates that may have been implemented as well. Be sure to travel safely and rest assured that you’ve done your due diligence by referring to CDC travel guidelines. Read on for the best sunset hikes in the U.S.

The Guadalupe Peak Hike

Located at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Culberson County, Texas, the is both a highly rewarding and very strenuous 8.5-mile round trip hike with a 3,000-foot elevation gain. The vantage point that hikers experience at the summit of Guadalupe Peak is a sight to be sought-after and never taken for granted because you’ll find yourself atop the highest point in the state of Texas at an impressive 8,751 feet of elevation. The peak is so optimal that it’s been nicknamed the “Top of Texas,” and given the statistics, that’s not at all hyperbole.

Not only at this peak will you find an excellent view of several of the ecosystems of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, such as the park’s high desert and high elevation forests, but you’ll find that the “Top of Texas” offers a tremendous view that is framed by surrounding mountains and desert, all of which work together to paint the expected sunset as perfectly as a canvas painting. It’s been said that “the sun’s shimmering lavender, peach, and golden hues lavish over the mountains, canyons, desert, and dunes” collaborate to make up a landscape that is “otherworldly,” and as it’s found on the highest point in the largest state in the country, that’s an accurate description. There’s just no other sunset hike quite like it.

Rubicon Trail

While a challenging hike that tests your endurance but then rewards you with an unforgettable glimpse of a perfect sunset is perfect for some, sometimes you don’t necessarily need an exhausting trial only to be rewarded with the best views. If you’re looking for a memorable experience that won’t test your physical limits, then there’s no better blend of culture, architecture, and beauty than the Rubicon Trail, which is found in the Tahoe Basin National Forest in Zephyr Cove, Nevada.

This moderate 16.4-mile trail located near South Lake Tahoe, California has its most popular trailhead at both D.L. Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay State Park, but if your begin at the trailhead located in the Tahoe Basin National Forest, you’ll be treated by passing by one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States,the Vikingsholm Castle, also called “Tahoe’s Hidden Castle.” This 38-room mansion located on the shores of Emerald Bay is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, and it literally stands out as a fixture taken out of time. Furthermore, once you’ve passed the wooded enclosures, and granite-laden scenery, you’ll find yourself at a minor incline in the trail that rests just above Emerald Bay, making it the prime location to see not only one sunset but a second in the reflected waters beneath it.

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American Cities that Remind Travelers of Europe

Traveling abroad brings with it a lot of new opportunities, experiences, and memories, but the process of procuring a passport, enduring long flights and layovers in airports, and navigating the all-too-common European language barrier can all amount to American travelers staying domestic. Thankfully, this travel article from Travel + Leisure details the 14 United States cities that will remind you of Europe without ever crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

As a reminder, no matter where you’re traveling to in these uncertain times, it’s always a responsible move and a good idea to check local travel advisories, city ordinances, and state mandates that may have been implemented due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Travel safely and rest assured that you’ve done your due diligence by referring to CDC travel guidelines.

The full list from Travel + Leisure was inspired by recent results from a 2021 report from TripIt, who surveyed its readership of over 3,200 users in the United States to get a reading on which cities they’d like to visit post-pandemic. The results revealed that an overwhelming number of respondents wanted to travel to Europe but would concede for a stay in the United States.

TripIt’s results detailed that “94 percent of respondents said they plan to travel in 2021. Of those, 26 percent are planning to take a bucket list vacation—that is, a once in a lifetime trip.” Furthermore, Trip’s survey data revealed: “that more than twice as many Americans plan to travel to Europe for a bucket list trip versus the second-highest-ranking destination: a trip within the U.S.” With this information in mind, Travel + Leisure compiled a list of cities in the United States of America that share a European spirit, whether it’s in the architecture, landscape, accommodations, or community members.

San Francisco, California

While this city is consistently ranked among the top ten most visited cities in the country, there’s a valid reason for that: it’s a culturally-rich city filled to its brim with ample history, attractions, nature, outdoor sights, and cuisine that must be experienced first-hand to be appreciated. This commercial, cultural, and financial center of California offers a wide array of European experiences in the Bay Area, and this is likely due to the fact that the city itself is a “mishmash of world cultures” with a temperate climate and occasional palm trees embodying an atmosphere of a Mediterranean vacation.

However, only 90 minutes north of San Francisco is the vine-draped chateau at Jordan Vineyard and Winery that offers Parisian elegance. 65 miles away in Dixon, California is Araceli Farms, a six-acre lavender farm with fragrant purple fields reminding tourists of Provence. Lastly, one of the truest European experiences can be had by gliding down the Napa River in a gondola à la Venice.

New Ulm, Minnesota

Located only 90 minutes from the Twin Cities, this Minnesota small town is reminiscent of and named for Ulm, a community in Bavaria, Germany. What started as a rural community has only grown into a welcoming city of friendly residents who are interested in sharing their culture and history with visitors. The town itself is home to a population of over 50% German-Americans, making this an ideal destination for anyone missing the German countryside and community.

Once you’re in New Ulm, you’ll be tempted to check out the German-Bohemian Immigrant Monument in German Park, which celebrates the city’s immigrants, or climb the Hermann Monument, which stands atop a dome in Hermann Heights Park. The monument was built in the 1890s to honor a German victory over the Romans, and today you can climb approximately 100 steep steps to the base of the statue, allowing you a breath-taking new perspective of New Ulm and the gorgeous Minnesota River Valley. Top off your trip by stopping in at the museum at the base of the dome to learn about the history of the German Arminius tribe and the European-rich city of New Ulm.

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Tony Chachere’s Celebrates 50 Years in Business

Considered to be a non-negotiable condiment atop many a dinner table both inside and outside of the state of Louisiana, Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning and the company that produces this Creole pantry staple has celebrated 50 years in service with a commemorative can, according to this dutiful article from The Acadiana Advocate detailing the rich history of the company and its celebrated founder.

For many Louisianans, eating cuisine outside of the southern United States, the following scene looks all too familiar: the dish that you’re eating is blander than you’re used to and perhaps under-seasoned, at least according to your preferences. Then, just when you’re reaching for the salt and pepper shakers for a second time, one of your peers takes out the holy grail of southern spice blends, a can of Tony Chachere’s Famous Creole Seasoning.

Family-owned and operated since 1972, this Louisiana pantry staple has recently hit a milestone and celebrated its 50 ^th year in service with an anniversary edition of its iconic green, red, and white can that’s all-too-recognizable north of I-10. The new can features a classic version of its famous design but with a twist. Simply called “Tony’s Famous Creole Seasoning” in a harkening back to its earlier days, there’s also a commemorative 50^th-anniversary seal as well as a classic illustration of the man who started it all, the “Ole Master” of fine Creole cuisine, Tony Chachere.

Oftentimes when Tony Chachere, the Opelousas-born Creole chef would be preparing a meal for his friends and family, he would be heard saying “tonight, I’m gonna make ’em cry.” This was due to his natural culinary inclination to “spice up” any meal he was a part of, and for 50 years now, his legacy lives on in the routine “spicing up” many meals in and outside of the state of Louisiana.

Chachere, an Opelousas sportsman and Creole chef, didn’t actually create his iconic Creole seasoning mix until 1972, the year he retired at the age of 65 and published Tony Chachere’s Cajun Country Cookbook. In a few short weeks, Chachere had sold 10,000 copies of his cookbook from the back of his Station Wagon, and while his supporters and fans appreciated his detailed and delicious recipes for Crawfish Hand Pies and Zesty Tuna Melts, they would continually ask him to sell his signature blend of spices.

Soon after, Tony Chachere’s Famous Creole seasoning was born and available state-wide; for the past 50 years, the spice blend and the Creole cuisine company turned 50 in 2022. The marketing director for Tony’s Chachere’s, Celeste Chachere, said in a statement, “what started as my great-grandfather’s life-long dream has now become a devoted mission for four generations of the Chachere family. Making the flavors of his beloved Cajun and Creole cuisine accessible to the world beyond Louisiana is what Mr. Tony was most passionate about, and we are continually looking for new ways to bring more flavor to every meal people eat, just as he always dreamed.”

It’s not an understatement to say that Tony Chachere’s seasoning is famous nation-wide, and many who find themselves eating a bland meal are thankful to see the notorious colors of the 8 oz. can. Chachere’s Creole seasoning has gone on to be used in dozens of cookbooks over the years, featured in films, and a staple of cooking contests. Chachere, who was honored in March 1995 as the first-ever inductee into the Louisiana Chefs Hall of Famebefore passing away one week later a few days shy of his 90^th birthday, is a pioneer of Louisiana culinary tradition, and it’s all-the-more fitting for the brand’s semi-centennial anniversary to be celebrated with a commemorative can of the seasoning that started it all.

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Tulane University Brain Institute Awarded NIH Grant

Earlier this month, the National Institute of Health awarded a $14 million grant to Tulane University’s Brain Institute to study why heart disease, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes seem to prevent the medicinal benefits of estrogen therapy, as per a press release from Tulane University.

Established in 2016, Tulane’s Brain Institute is an academic multidisciplinary organization that aims to coordinate and elevate neuroscience across Tulane University’s campus. Jill Daniel, the principal investigator of estrogen study and the director of the Tulane Brain Institute, commented on receiving the grant in saying: The Brain Institute was created to support the kind of collaborative, boundary-crossing research that is needed to answer big questions about the brain and brain disorders. This grant will allow us to do just that.”

The $14 million grant awarded by the NIH’s National Institute on Aging will be used by Jill Daniel, the Gary P. Dohanich Professor in Brain Science and professor of psychology to lead a team, composed of scientists from the Tulane University schools of Science and Engineering, Medicine, and Public Health and Tropical Medicine. The team of scientists will also be made up of scientists from the LSU Health Sciences Center as well as the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine.

The team will embark on a five-year study to determine why and under what specific conditions estrogen therapy can increase or decrease the risk for developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Estrogen therapy can help to protect women against age-related cognitive decline, but decades of laboratory research have found that women who take estrogen therapy after menopause don’t see the expected delay or decrease in the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Daniel said of the phenomenon, “in the lab, estrogens are neuroprotective and enhance memory, yet in women, effects of menopausal estrogen therapy on aging brains can range from beneficial to detrimental. We hypothesize that cardiovascular and metabolic disease alter the neuroprotective effects of estrogens. This comprehensive research program will determine mechanisms by which a healthy brain responds differently to estrogens as compared to an unhealthy one and identify conditions under which estrogen administration will or will not prevent or delay age-related cognitive disease.”

The National Institute of Health’s $14 million Program Project Grant (PPG) will include four interrelated research projects with each project’s research investigator focusing on areas such as the impact of hypertension and a high-fat diet on the ability of estrogen to affect the aging female brain as well as the impact of estrogen on vascular health and cognitive aging.

One of the aspects of the research project that is considered to be essential in achieving the program’s overall objective is found in what each lead investigator brings to the table, as each will surely lend their “distinct yet complementary area of expertise to the PPG.” The lead investigators of the Tulane Brain Institute’s Program Project Grant (PPG) team are associate professors of pharmacology Sarah Lindsey and Ricardo Mostany, associate professor of cell and molecular biology Laura Schrader, and associate professor of physiology Andrea Zsombok.

As outlined by Jill Daniel, there is enough preliminary evidence to suggest that postmenopausal women taking some form of estrogen therapy could be at increased risk of cognitive disease if they have a pre-existing condition such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. It’s one of the goals of the overall project to determine if and how postmenopausal estrogen therapy interacts interact with cardiovascular and metabolic health to impact the brain and cognitive aging.

Daniel announced that the team will “hypothesize that cardiovascular and metabolic disease alter the neuroprotective effects of estrogens. This comprehensive research program will determine mechanisms by which a healthy brain responds differently to estrogens as compared to an unhealthy one and identify conditions under which estrogen administration will or will not prevent or delay age-related cognitive disease.”

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Restaurant-Style French Toast Recipe

Anyone who has attempted to recreate the quality of french toast that you find at the town’s popular brunch restaurant at home can attest that it can be tricky to replicate, yet the following high-quality, delicious recipe from the popular food blog Let’s Delish Recipes certainly comes closest to whipping up a restaurant-caliber breakfast in your own kitchen.

Even when supplied with the best intentions, sometimes fate intervenes and you’re left with a disappointing breakfast entree in the form of the less-than-ideal plate of soggy french toast. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is to pay attention to what type of bread you’re using. The best results can come from utilizing the thickness of bread like French bread, Challah bread, or at least any type of bread that is sliced at least 1-inch thick. This makes all the difference, so be sure to spend the extra time deciding at the grocery store.

One of the best parts of the following recipe is that all of the french toast will be ready at the same time, meaning that there isn’t the annoying tradition of the chef standing at the oven’s skillet with the next piece while the rest of the family enjoys their meal. This is thanks to the method of placing your French toast onto a baking sheet and popping it in the oven for about 15 minutes before serving. With this method, you’ll ensure that each piece will come out crispy every time.

Everyone has an opinion when it comes to what toppings, garnishes, and fixings are best atop a slice of french toast, but the most popular choices have to be maple syrup, fresh fruit, whipped cream, and powdered sugar. Try and have a combination of all four to see which flavors are accentuated by which topping.

Ingredients

2 fresh eggs
½ cup of milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
A pinch of salt
6 slices of French bread or Texas Toast, each 1 inch thick
1-2 tablespoons of butter

Recipe

Begin your breakfast of champions by preheating your oven to 400°F. While you’re waiting for it to reach 400°F, you’ll want to take out your cooking instruments and cookware.
In a large skillet, melt your 1-2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Then, in a large, shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together your eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. At the same time, prepare your slices of 1-inch thick bread nearby.
One at a time, place your bread slices into the egg mixture and ensure that you coat each piece fully on both sides. Be sure to turn each piece of bread in the mixture and let it stand for a few seconds so that each side is coated well.
You’ll cook the french toast in batches to ensure good individual quality. Working in batches, brown the bread slices in your skillet of butter for 2-3 minutes per side. Hold each side until it’s golden brown, and then transfer the bread to a large baking sheet when finished. Depending on how many people you’re serving, you’ll want to keep a clean skillet and steady procedure for browning the individual slices of bread, so pay attention to the individual browning times.
After each piece of bread has been browned on both sides and transferred to the baking sheet, place the sheet tray into the 400°F oven and bake the batch until the bread pieces are crispy and slightly puffed. This should take about 12-15 minutes.
The method in which you serve and garnish your french toast is up to you, but try to keep the serving size to a moderate amount. Many prefer slices of fresh fruit or maple syrup with their french toast pieces, as the texture of the toast compliments the sweetness of the toppings and garnishes excellently.

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Homemade Shrimp Étouffée

A year-round culinary staple in the South is a freshly-prepared bowl of shrimp étouffée, and whether you’re enjoying it on a Friday afternoon during Lent or surrounded by guests at a Saturday night dinner table, the delicious tastes and accompanying aroma of a classically cajun serving of shrimp étouffée are always appreciated. Thanks to this tried-and-true shrimp étouffée recipe from Little Spice Jar that features the authentic addition of homemade roux and shrimp stock, you’ll be all set to enjoy this culinary staple of the south.

Ingredients

2 pounds of fresh shrimp, peeled

Homemade stovetop roux

1.5 tablespoons of cold butter

1 large onion, minced

2 green bell peppers, minced

2 large celery ribs, minced

3-5 sprigs of fresh parsley and thyme

5-6 cloves of garlic, chopped

5 bay leaves

Tabasco hot sauce, to taste

2 tablespoons of cajun seasoning

Peppercorns & salt

Recipe

Shrimp Stock

While you’re more than welcome to use store-bought seafood stock for this recipe, it’s certainly elated by preparing your own stock with the discarded shells of the shrimp you’ve peeled for the étouffée. To make the stock, simply combine the shells of at least 2 pounds of shrimp with 3 cups of water, a few sprigs of parsley, a few sprigs of fresh thyme, 2 cloves of garlic, a few peppercorns, and a sprinkle of salt.
Combine the above ingredients in a large stockpot, letting it all simmer for 30-45 minutes. Strain the contents, and you’re set!

Stovetop Roux

The roux is the heart and soul of any proper étouffée or gumbo recipe, and though it’s slightly intimidating at first, it can truly make-or-break your meal if done correctly. For this meal, start by heating a “high heat oil” such as peanut, corn, or vegetable oil or butter in your heavy bottom pot and add in your flour, whisking it until all lumps have been worked out.
From here on out, it’s 22-27 minutes of constant stirring. In the beginning four minutes, you’ll begin to see a blond roux, which is used for béchamel sauces transition into a slightly colorful roux at the five-minute mark. At this point, it’ll be akin to a cream color.
At about 10 minutes of stirring, the roux reaches a color that is similar to light almond butter as it begins to smell like buttered popcorn to some people.
At about 15-22 minutes is when the roux begins to retain the color of peanut butter, and many cooking an étouffée will make the mistake of stopping here as this type of roux will still retain ample thickening qualities, but a darker roux is needed in this case.
Within the 23-37 minute mark is what this recipe’s author calls the “magic spot” with the roux showing a deep brown coloration with a slight red undertone. While it’s possible to continue cooking until the 28-34 minute mark and make what’s called a “black roux,” you often run the risk of burning your roux, and as any cajun chef who makes their roux by hand can agree, you don’t want to start the process over again.

Shrimp Étouffée

To transition into the cooking of the actual étouffée, you’ll pour in your Cajun and Creole “holy trinity,” which is your minced onions, bell peppers, and celery into the heavy pot with your roux. Stir it all together and add in your garlic to simmer for about 30 seconds.
Add in your shrimp stock, cajun seasonings, dashes of Tabasco sauce, and bay leaves. Stir it all together, making sure that you carefully submerge the bay leaves so as to not break them up in the étouffée, and bring this all to a boil. After it reaches a proper boil, lower your heat to low and allow the étouffée to simmer for just about 15 minutes.
Next, you’ll add your peeled shrimp into the pot and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. At this point, when the shrimp is cooked your étouffée is officially “done,” but it definitely benefits from simmering in the pot on low for at least 10-20 minutes as you prepare the side dishes, salad, and shrimp étouffée’s partner in crime, the potato salad.
Before you’re ready to serve, turn off the heat and add in a knob of cold butter so as to help thicken up the étouffée after the flour in your homemade roux has come to lose its thickening capabilities in becoming a darker roux. The cold butter in the hot liquid of the étouffée helps to thicken the dish while also adding an appreciated hint of creaminess.

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