Author: Emily Gautreaux

Retire Early and Happy in these Southern Cities

While many find the idea of retiring as early as their 40’s to be a crazy dream, Southern Living recently outlined the best cities that allow you to retire earlier and thus, happier.

According to a report by Realtor.com, the key to the sometimes lofty goal of retiring ahead of your 50th or 60th birthday is based on saving. When equipped with smart financial planning, anyone can kickback for the late-in-life second or third act with this list that’s been inspired by the principle of FIRE, or Financial Independence, Retire Early. This reliable concept was outlined in the 1992 bestseller Your Money or Your Life, which guided its readers to smarter, more proactive financial planning that saved time, money, and stress.

 Southern Living curated the following list of the American cities where aspiring early retirees can purchase an affordable home in a job market that’s robust and high-paying, which is a standard tenant that FIRE followers stand by. If you’re looking to begin preparing to live the good, easy life in your later life, then consider these top five cities in which you should start the job searching and house hunting now, so you can relax later.

Palm Bay, Florida

It might be true that it seems as though everyone retires in Florida, and if they do then it’s probably for a good reason. Enter: Palm Bay, the locale that has you move to the sunshine state now instead of later. Live your beachfront dreams in this coastal town where residents relax in the laid-back lifestyle but are also in close proximity to major employers like Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Kennedy Space Center, and Disney World. Also, despite the waterfront address you might find yourself on, know that the location comes with fairly reasonable real estate prices, with the medicum home sale price of $220k.

Beaumont, Texas

Known as the birthplace of the oil boom of the 20th Century when a well struck oil beneath the city gushed for nine days in 1901, Beaumont proves with its large, illustrious history that everything, including the house-sizes, is bigger in Texas. Today, the city has a still-thriving fuel industry that is, honestly, making its residents rich, as the city is known as being a hub of industrialization, as Beaumont aptly boasts a high percentage of lucrative jobs. If you pair this with the fact that large and-in-charge homes can often be bought for a “steal,” as the median sales price is $163k, you might just book yourself a trip to Beaumont sooner rather than later.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Well, while it’s not the most notorious or sizable city in North Carolina like Raleigh, Durham, or Charlotte, this mid-sized city has it all, that is- in terms of its quality and cost of living. Winston-Salem’s medium home sales price averages out at the reasonable $178k, and that is in addition to nearly 20 percent of the city’s job market  being made up of high-paying, big employers. Such jobs are at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the Hanes Clothing Brand, and BB&T Bank, leaving you flush with cash to save and invest in your luxurious future.

Huntsville, Alabama

This city combines the notorious legacies of not only the space program but also the heavy presences of the military and tech industry, thus making this city a prime, lucrative location to set your sights on if you wish to retire early and happy. Housing prices in this city orbit around the 200k average, but there are countless, historic “fixer-uppers” that can be snagged for much less. Huntsville offers high-paying salaries to its residents, as this city, along with Cape Canaveral and Houston, serves as one of the few epicenters of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA space program.

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Six Pasta Recipes You Must Know

The tried and true champion of dinnertime is, predictably, the last-minute pasta dish, and if you can equip your mental cookbook arsenal with these traditional Italian pasta recipes from Martha Stewart, you’ll be the celebrated champion of the delicious, authentic, and classic pasta dish that wins over the entire dining room.

Now, you may be particularly familiar with how to cook up a plate of bolognese from scratch or you’re the type of shopper to pick up some seasoning, noodles, and a couple jars of sauce for a last-minute concoction. Either way, the following classic recipes should be known by every chef as they introduce variety and breadth to your cooking catalogue.

Pasta Carbonara

Let’s start small with “Old Reliable,” or Carbonara, a quick dinnertime staple that is made from 6 everyday ingredients.  Honestly, if you know how to boil water, you’re not too far away from the easily-accessible pasta recipe for carbonara, as you need only crisp some pancetta in a skillet and whisk together eggs and creme on the side while the pasta cooks in your expertly-boiled water. Once al dente, simply combine it all together, and add bacon or other pork product, such as guanciale for a truly italiana plate.

Cacio e Pepe

Keeping in line with the theme of easy preparation, a simple plate of pasta doesn’t necessarily have to be a Bolognese sauce or lasagna, because it honestly doesn’t get much simpler or back-to-basic than Cacio e Pepe. This pasta recipe hits your tongue in a delightful way, as it’s made with Grana Padano cheese, black pepper, olive oil, and just a touch of lemon. It’s the fantastically simple, completely irresistible, and quintessentially Roman dish that you’ve been craving to prepare, cook, and enjoy.

Single-Pan-Pasta

Hailing from the region of Puglia (or Apulia), Italy is this revolutionary cooking method of placing dried pasta in a skillet along with the other ingredients to gradually cook and infuse with its accompanying flavors. This ensures that your noodles get the most flavor and you don’t have to dirty half the dishes in your kitchen just to get an italian meal on the table. Top it all off with fresh basil and grated parmesan for an easy and clean-cooking supper.

Classic Lasagna

It’s truly a must-know recipe that has a variety of takes from different regions across Italy, Europe, and the world at large. This particular recipe showcases a hearty meat sauce made with ground beef and pork sausage, and that sauce is sandwiched between layers of noodles and a rich cheese filling. Additionally, if you’re looking for a little added variety, feel free to substitute the normal protein-laden faire with fresh greens and vegetables for a dish that is less filling and more fulfilling .

Penne alla Norma

Speaking of vegetables, try out this hearty vegetarian penne recipe that takes advantage of the natural flavors and textures of eggplant, tomato, and ricotta. This dish comes from the heart of Sicily, and it’s rumored to have been inspired by Sicilian composer, Vincenzo Bellini’s opera, “Norma.” This aesthetically-appealing dish pairs well with fresh basil sprinkled atop your dollop of ricotta cheese for a creamy consistency found with every stir.

Spaghetti with Sicilian Pesto

Jazz up your tired old spaghetti with pesto sauce, and this isn’t the usual Genoese pesto you may be all-too familiar with. This dish features a Sicilian take on pesto that uses toasted red pepper, fresh tomatoes, anchovies, capers, and golden raisins for a combination that is simply enlightened by its stacking of sweet, acidic, and savory flavors. The pignoli found in basil pesto are instead replaced with toasted almonds, though the Parmigiano is a constant across variants, making for a wonderfully flavorful dish.

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2021 King Cake Sales Remain Steady Despite Pandemic

While most Americans might look forward to Valentine’s Day as soon as the New Year’s festivities are finished, Louisianan’s are often found anticipating the Mardi Gras season alongside its promise of king cake, and according to a recent feature by Houma Today, 2021 is no different.

As Louisiana history goes, Mardi Gras festivities have only grown in size, popularity, and community acclaim over the past few decades, though due to  the current climate of social distancing and pandemic precautions, many in the state are left wondering what a 2021 Mardi Gras season will look like.

In the New Orleans area, as well as most other cities across the state, Mardi Gras parades have been canceled in light of the criticism received from last year’s celebrations in New Orleans. 2020 parades contributed to a drastic increase in coronavirus cases in the state. However, as many New Orleans area bakeries are realizing: people will still want to eat king cakes despite not having festive parades or elegant costume balls to attend.

One such baker is Will Samuels who has been running the King Cake Hub, a seasonal shop that offers king cakes to 15 New Orleans Bakeries, for the past three years. Samuels reports that sales have been just as good this year with him selling nearly 1,000 king cakes a day, saying, “it’s fantastic. Surpassing the numbers that I expected.”

Once known as a rather simplistic dessert in Louisiana, the classic king cake was merely composed of  a brioche ring of cake topped with purple, green, and gold frosting that represent the colors of Carnival. Nowadays bakers, chefs, and consumers from across the south have made variations of the classic confection, such as being filled with cream cheese, stuffed with berries, or packed with praline filling. Though, one constant filling remains among nearly all king cake varieties- in most cases a plastic baby. If a slice of king cake with the baby inside is served to someone, tradition dictates that they must buy “the next king cake”.

Between the start of Carnival on January 6 and Mardi Gras Tuesday, a high percentage of New Orleanian’s daily caloric intake comes from ingesting king cakes. So it’s no wonder that these southerners haven’t let the pandemic quiet their desire for this cake that many start to look forward to as early as Ash Wednesday.

With most offices being closed and countless Mardi Grad balls or parties being canceled in fear of being a potential super-spreader event, most bakeries are noticing most individual or medium-sized king cakes being sold. Baker Chaya Conrad, of Bywater Bakery, was initially prepared for a less-than-ideal king cake season, fearing that her business would be in trouble without that annual sales boost, however this season has been steady thus far, and it’s only the beginning.

Conrad reported, “it’s madness. It’s through the roof,” she said. “Thank God for king cake season,” and for the first time in her bakery’s history she is shipping her king cakes. On a recent Monday, she shipped out 200 cakes and sold over 300 from the physical store itself, which is quite comparable to last year’s 250-300 daily cake average. Conrad said, “people can’t travel to New Orleans. This is the one thing people can do for carnival.”

In addition to the Mardi Gras season, local bakeries had seen additional orders stemming from the New Orleans’ Saints playoff run earlier in 2021. Ryan Haydel’s third generation Haydel’s Bakery reportedly sees a 25% sales increase following every Saints victory, and in a year marked by uncertainty and surprises, the constant that is the New Orleans king cake is a welcome 2021 treat.

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Unforgettable Charming Southern Cities

America’s southern cities are renowned for their diverse array of cuisine, culture, and colorful landscapes.  There’s simply no better intersection of the best offerings of the South than this curated list from Southern Living, which is voted on by its readership, researched by its staff, and suggested to be enjoyed by all safe, responsible travelers to the unique American South.

Alexandria, Virginia

Located no less than a stone’s throw from our nation’s capital, the city of Alexandria is as treasured and bountiful as the famed lost library it’s named after. Maintaining its small-town, southern charm while still offering the amenities and fights of a much more expansive city, this destination will have you and those close to you forging unforgettable memories while taking in all you can along the King Street Mile. This neighborhood is as vibrant as it is aurally vivacious as it has sights consisting of centuries-old architecture, music and sounds emerging from dozens of locally and independently-owned restaurants, and quaint boutiques you won’t want to miss. To top it all off, if you’re caught lucky enough to visit in the holiday season, you’ll be illuminated beneath a canopy of twinkling lights sprinkling Virginian magic atop the charming bricken-laden sidewalks of this quaint, cozy town.

St. Petersburg, Florida

If your ideal city must have convenient beach access, then look no further than the southern city of St. Petersberg, as this paradise found along the Gulf Coast has the renowned sand-and-surf backyard of St. Pete Beach and Pass-A-Grille Beach, and the notorious white sands found at Clearwater are just a short drive away. The city limits themselves allow for a ton of entertainment such as freshly caught and stocked restaurants and unforgettable artistic sights- like the Salvador Dali Museum, housing the artist’s largest collection outside of Europe.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

While you might at first only recognize the giants of Tennessee, Memphis and Nashville, especially when it pertains to music or BBQ, get ready to think of Chattanooga when it comes to outdoor adventures. This mid-sized gateway to the riverfront is a cultural and activity magnet for any travelers who love nature as trails and landscapes that appeal to bikers, backpackers, bikers, and paddlers are found throughout the city.  Alternatively, if you’re looking to explore the southern city while you get your cardio in for the day, be sure to take in the city’s Bluff View Art District or the city’s shopping center consisting of restaurants and retail stores that house a former Civil War fort, Warehouse Row.

Greenville, South Carolina

Known as not only the midpoint between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina, Greenville is also a fast-growing, riverfront city that makes it harder to overlook annually. This small, but full city holds the amenities of a sprawling urban metropolis with its star-powered restaurants, swanky lounges, and a 32-acre green space in the center of the city. Stop by the walkable downtown expanse of the vibrant and happening Main Street for a southerly charming city with capital flair.

Richmond, Virginia

Often called the true “Capital of the South,” Richmond truly holds something for everyone within its city’s walls, and that’s easy to do when your city has been a part of over four centuries of American and pre-American history.Nowadays, there’s a hipness to the city that is noticed by visitors and locals alike who like to take advantage of the trendy boutique hotels, gorgeous nature trails, casual oyster eateries, and over 30 craft breweries. And if that’s not enough, make a point to stop into “Unhappy Hours,” a garden gathering held monthly in the city’s Edgar Allen Poe Museum in the summer and fall months.

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Authentic Crawfish Étouffée

When it’s cold, especially in the south, and crawfish is in season, there’s no better dish than authentic Crawfish Étouffée to liven your spirits and warm you up, so get that pot out and prepare to be invigorated by Cajun and Creole cuisine with this recipe from Acadiana Table’s George Graham.

As it’s commonly accepted down south, there are few other absolutely pure expressions of Louisiana cooking than the light roux of a crawfish étouffée with its thickened butter sauce housing swimming crawfish tails over a heavenly pillow of white rice. Known as a “centerpiece dish,” a bowl or heavy plate of crawfish étouffée can truly make-or-break a southern dinner table due to its unique flavor and texture profile that it offers in every freshly-caught, seafood-laden bite.

Various restaurants have crawfish étouffée”remixes” which include the addition of tomato paste, dark roux, or cream of mushroom soup, but in this recipe you’ll find freshly-caught, cajun authenticity in every step, each bite, and from all angels present.

While it’s often accepted to use frozen cooked crawfish tails when the real deal is not in season, perhaps to appease an out-of-season craving for cajun cuisine, it’s always preferred to go with the freshly-picked tail meat, as there simply is no substitute. Some chefs like to save the shells from a crawfish boil and order extra pounds of boiled crawfish to create their own stock. This is due to the fact that besides fresh seafood, there’s also no better substitute than an intense and depth-filled crawfish stock to truly elevate your dish to a higher palette.

The crawfish etouffee recipe’s chef’s note indicates that it’s often considered a best practice to peel your own crawfish, but when found lacking, packaged tail meat is fine as it’s a time-saver. If using pre-packaged, be sure to add a little water to the fat inside in order to get all of the flavor out. Make your crawfish stock at home with leftover heads and shells from past meals. Simply rinse off any seasoning and boil them for 30 minutes and strain. Alternatively, a good shrimp stock can be made using dried shrimp that’s boiled in water and strained.

Ingredients:

1 pound of butter (unsalted)

2 cups of diced, yellow onions

1 cup of diced, green bell pepper

1 cup of diced celery

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 pounds of Louisiana crawfish tail meat

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups crawfish (or seafood) stock

Kosher salt

Freshly-ground pepper

Hot Sauce

¼ cup flat-leaf parsley (chopped)

1 cup diced green onion tops

6 cups cooked Louisiana long-grain white rice

Recipe:

  1. Place a large skillet over medium heat and melt your unsalted butter; then add the onions, bell pepper and celery (the trinity). Sauté until it’s tender and then add in your garlic. Lower the heat to a simmer and stir your ingredients to combine. Season the mixture with cayenne pepper and add your crawfish tail meat by stirring it into the total combination.
  2. Sprinkle your flour over the mixture and stir it in to incorporate it and thicken it by cooking the four. Add some of your stock and continue stirring until it all begins to thicken. Add more stock until you get a stew-like thickness.
  3. Season it all to taste with salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Let it simmer on the stove for at least 45 minutes, but the longer and lower the heat, the better. Serve over a mound of white rice and garnish with parsley and green onion tops.

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Nicholls University Culinary Graduates Pivot Careers Amid Pandemic

Culinary Graduates from Nicholls University have had a less than ideal post graduate year thanks to COVID-19, but many are finding inspiration to adapt and think creatively in spite of the challenges, as reported in an article from HoumaToday.

In a regular year graduates of the prestigious Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University have found great success in finding jobs in food business and culinary arts following graduation, but with the pandemic closing many doors and limiting the number of patrons a restaurant could serve, many graduates were laid off and found in need of a job.

Some chefs, like Breanna Bolden, owner of Baton Rouge’s Oven Bits and Pieces, found that the pandemic lit a fire beneath her as she began to adapt her business to suit the immediate needs of the times. Bolden  said that she is thankful for COVID more “than anything else that’s happened this year, and I might be crazy but it’s allowed me to see things more differently, opened a lot more doors and gave me a lot more opportunities than I had a year ago. Right after graduation, we’re so ambitious, and you have so many dreams and so many things you want to accomplish and you don’t really understand the weight of that or the possibilities behind it until situations like this happen.”

When the orders began to come in for restaurants to close and Bolden was affected, she began doing contract work for a local bakery, but once a machine broke leaving her without work for a week, the signs became clear and she realized that it was high time to go into business for herself. Now, she works from home, hoping to open a bakery after the pandemic ends, but until then she keeps it present in her mind, keeping customers distanced and palettes satisfied.

In addition to Bolden, two other recent Nicholls University culinary graduates, Kyong Han and Meifung Liu, also started their  Baton Rouge businesses amidst the pandemic. And while the couple had graduated together in 2018, they own separate businesses with Han doing Korean catering and Lie baking.

At the pandemic’s start, culinary graduate, Han was working as a sous chef and was consequently laid off as a result of the state’s closures. When he was offered his job back, he and Liu pivoted and instead decided to set out on their own back with catering. Liu remarked that about halfway through the pandemic, she assessed her work load and her life and decided that she wanted to make more than simply cakes every day. From that point onward, she began to dedicate more time to the “Two Plaid Aprons” blog, writing up more recipes.

At first, they were hesitant about beginning a local catering business, not knowing of Baton Rogue’s reception to korean cuisine, but after time passed, Han reports that business is pretty good. As of their post-pandemic plans, they hope to open a café in the future.

Another Nicholls culinary grad, Sous Chef Emily Johnson was working at the New Orleans School of Cooking where she taught hands-on private dinner classes when she had to file for unemployment as a result of the pandemic striking.

Left exhausted and amid unemployment paperwork, Johnson pivoted and began to volunteer her services. Johnson reported that she was “just feeling really down and not useful and not my normal level of energy, I decided to go and volunteer myself at a Second Harvest Food Bank,” where as many as 800-4,500 plates a night were served. Soon, as with other Nicholls grads, the pandemic began to show itself as an opportunity to recognize the importance of self reliance and sustainability when surrounded by unfamiliar times.

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