Voodoo Rice and Beans Recipe

That's right.  Voodoo rice.  I had the pleasure to visit New Orleans earlier this year.  As most of us know, New Orleans is famous for it's history, spiritualism, parties and, of course, food.  I remember that everything I had to eat there was so good that I was sad to leave. I was lucky enough to have this spicy, exotic dish on my visit there.  The locals are very open and friendly and they like to share some of their culinary secrets.   Here is what they shared with me.

Voodoo Rice and Beans 


Ingredients
1/2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 cup rice
1/4 cup red pepper, chopped
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup of vegetable stock
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of corn
Hot pepper sauce to taste

Saute' onions & seasonings until onions are soft.  Add remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil and then cover and simmer about 20 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  Eat!

Some of you will want meat with this.  That's perfectly reasonable and very easy to do.  You can replace the vegetable stock with chicken stock and add some meat pieces of your choice.  For the siren clan, the best thing to put in is shrimp.  The locals at New Orleans swear that shrimp is the best meat to have with this meal.  However, for all you shape-shifters out there (especially werewolves), get yourselves a fresh cut steak and cook it rare.  The last time I checked, that is how you prefer it. 

This dish is great for a casual night at home when you feel the need for a little adventure.  I recommend having this dish with a lovely chilled rose' wine and a fresh garden salad.  The cold wine and the crisp salad are nice counterpoints to the heat of this dish.  Every mystic knows that a great meal is all about balance.  That is the secret to a magical meal. 

For more on my New Orleans experience, See:

http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/02/new-orleans-post-1-food.html
http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/02/new-orleans-post-2-shopping.html
http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/03/new-orleans-post-3-museums-and-culture.html
http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/03/new-orleans-post-4-tours.html
http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/03/new-orleans-post-5-mardi-gras.html

New Orleans post 5 - Mardi Gras

Here's a good question for you all.  Why should you come to New Orleans in the first place?   The answer is simple...Mardi Gras!!!  A long party that celebrates the coming of Lent.  It's a Catholic thing.  Every Mardi Gras is different but they usually last about a month.  So it's a month long of partying and feasting before you have to purge yourself and be good.  Nice thought eh?






You will notice that Mardi Gras has three distinct colors that all mean something different. Purple meaning justice, Green means faith and Gold means power.  All good things to stand for when used in a good way (of course).  They do, don't worry.  Now you will notice people who are wearing masks, costumes and face paint.  Feel free my mystics to do the same because there are not enough occasions where we get to wear costumes in this realm.  Anything goes here and I mean anything.  I saw many people who's costumes were made from body paint. 

Now a big thing with Mardi Gras is the parades.  They happen throughout different parts of the day and night.  You will see some fantastic floats, marching bands playing some good old fashioned tunes and dancers in lovely costumes.  Many of the parades are gigantic but the ones that were my personal favorite were the smaller ones rolling down Bourbon Street.  A small band would play and everyone on the street would start dancing.  Oh how fun that was!  I'll never forget it.

There is something you have to watch out for though.  And that is the beads being thrown.  It's easy for these things to hit you and here is the wild thing...you can't SUE.  I was informed by one of the locals that there is a law there that strictly prohibits anyone from suing someone else if you are hit by the mardi gras goodies.  I laughed and laughed at this but it does make sense believe it or not.  Fear not!  If you keep your head up and watch for these things you are guaranteed a safe bead-free injury.  Besides you want to collect as many as these beads as you can get because they are the cheapest souvenir you can get.  Now it's not just beads you can get.  Bras and panties are being thrown too.  If you catch one of these you're expected to wear them.  Just ask this guy!

Whoever you are dude.  Thanks for being the one to catch that bra and making it look good.

 

One more thing you might want to catch is the coconut.  My companion caught one and it means that she will have life long luck.  So not a bad thing to have.  I tell you this, I may not have gotten the gift of lifelong luck coming to New Orleans but I do have a lifelong memory.  Being here just opened my eyes to a whole new world and a whole new state of being.  I never thought I'd get something spiritual out of this or any kind of realization about myself.  I honestly thought it would just be a good time.  So come to New Orleans whether it's for the food, the crowd or the party.  Whatever you are looking for, you will find it.  It is a fabulous place to be.

Just ask this guy!

 

If you have any other questions or opinions, please feel free to comment.  I am pleased to hear from everyone. 

New Orleans Post 4 - Tours

This is one of the great things about New Orleans.  A variety of tours that talk about its colorful history.  The best tour and the one that everyone should take (especially you mystics) is The Voodoo Bone Lady Ghost Tour.   It is an amazing adventure that takes you around the French Quarter.  You are going to learn about all kinds of spirits.  Ghosts of a wealthy heir and his mother, former slave owners who's cruelty still haunts a historic building, a curse that causes injury and a mass murder that seems to still go on today.  I don't want to give away too much of these stories as the lady who shared this with us made it so entertaining that I think she should be the one to share these stories with you.  I will tell you that these tales are dark, scary, freaky and fun.

 <---feeling ominous yet?

Well one thing for sure, you won't be bored and you will get some really good exercise.  You will also hear stories about zombies, how they may have come to be zombies and how some people are mistaken for zombies.  (pretty cool stuff).  Still I was really fascinated with the stories of the vampires and how they made their home in New Orleans.  I wouldn't mind hearing more about them  because it still seems like a mystery to me of how and why they came there.  Anyone know more about this?

<---This is where the vamps came to be.

 

Anyway, this fabulous evening we got to stop at many interesting and lovely places but the one that I remember most is our brief bathroom visit to the Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop.  This place I have to say is a very fascinating place.  It is as dark and mysterious as it sounds but it is also airy and very down to earth.  The only light you will find in this place are the candles that sit on the tables.  Very moody atmosphere.  In other words, a good place for ghosts, vampires, werewolves and other nightly creatures to have some fun.

 

A great time, an entertaining host that will give you two voodoo spells at the end of the tour and an experience you will never forget.  Now be sure you keep this in mind especially if you happen to be here for the first time: As this is a ghost tour this will take place in the evening because they often do and who knows?  You might catch a glimpse of the paranormal.  In fact, I think I might have caught an old friend of mine from the Netherworld.  Check it out.

<----The mist in the picture.  Ghost or photo error?

I took another tour earlier in my trip.  This was in the Garden District that I booked through in my hotel.  Here you will see the gorgeous houses of famous celebrities like Nicholas Cage, Sandra Bullock and John Goodman.  You get a little history and see the tombs of Lafayette Cemetery and why it's better to have tombs as opposed to coffins (New Orleans is below sea level so the coffins rise).  Where certain movies such as D'Jango Unchained and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button are filmed.  And I tell you, the architecture of these homes are just stunning.  So yes I would spend a day checking out this tour.  Our guide is very entertaining, educated and knew where some good places were to eat. 

 

 

Besides I could not resist seeing the house where famous novelist Anne Rice lives.  So if you are in New Orleans, check out these tours because they are amazing.  You will learn so much in so little time and lets face it my mystical friends. "Knowledge and Wisdom is power."  whether its the history or knowledge of ghostly residents, take the time to check them out.  You won't be sorry. 

New Orleans Post 3 - The Museums and Culture

This Journey takes us to New Orleans Museum of Art or NOMA for short.  This is the place to find amazing works of art from the medieval ages to our modern society.  From east to west, Native to European, the art here is varied and beautiful.  A fascinating piece of history sits right before you with an explanation and a story to fascinate even the most uninterested of people. 

My personal favorite was the portrait of Marie Antoinette by Vigee Le Brun.  Big, tall and majestic.  That is exactly how I would have pictured her.  And I also liked the Chinese Snuff Bottles that were made from various materials such as jade and brass.  As you all well know, we still use those in our world.  We often use them for medicines or small potions but the humans (both Chinese and Europeans) used them for containing powdered tobacco.  If you are feeling homesick, take a look at these lovelies and know that its not as far as you think.

My next visit is to the Botanical Gardens that are just next door of NOMA.  Now this is a place where the flora captures you in an art all of its own.  I don't know about the rest of you but the majesty of nature always inspires me.  There are not as many flowers at this time of year but there are some that are not around where I am from (especially this time of year).  Floral trees, beautiful fountains, trees that seem more alive than anything else and little wild flowers popping up where you would least expect them.  And I can not forget the statues that remind you of Ancient Greece.  Go there to meditate or catch a glimpse of the wonderful plants.  It's not expensive at all either ($4.00 USD) when you want to connect to nature.

When it comes to learning more about history, there is a museum that you must go to and that is the World War II Museum.  Real life WWII Veterans will be happy to share their stories with you.  They are very intense, tragic and make you appreciate what we have today due to these noble people who sacrificed so much.  Even the locals speak really high of it and you get a first hand education of what happened in those days.  You won't get a better one. 

Now for something really unique, visit the Sculpture Garden.  The oddest and coolest structural pieces are there including what looks like a giant spider.  Something's you have to use your imagination for but others you can not help but admire the effort that these artists put in the detail of all these pieces. 

If you want art, history or getting a first hand experience of the culture that New Orleans provides check these places out.  You will find the wondrous in each and every one of these places.

New Orleans Post 2 - The Shopping

When it comes to shopping, you only need to be in one area... The French Quarter.  Everything and anything you need is in this area.  What do many people (mystic or otherwise) look for when on vacation?  The answer is Souvenirs (of course).  The best way to find something is right down Bourbon Street.  Down here if you are looking for just your typical T-Shirt or an atypical piece of art, this is the place and for really good prices.  My favorite store down this street is a small shop called Yesteryears.  This cool little shop is run by a cool, friendly local who has everything here from beautiful jewelry to gorgeous local artwork. 

  I could not help but buy a gorgeous painting made by a woman named Marrus.  She has quite the gift of making these beautiful, otherworldly pictures that not only scream out to you but somehow bring a little magic into your life.  I recommend you check out her website:  www.MarrusArt.com.  Now back to Yesteryears, you will find the unique and wonderful.  A gift from this place will make anyone in your circle smile.  The owner is a very interesting lady herself.  She is very knowledgeable and willing to help out a customer looking for a special something.  Plus she is a hoot, she knows some really funny stories so be sure to listen to a few.

 

Now if you want to get something really unusual, go to a voodoo shop.  You will find things there that you will not find in too many places. 

 <-----This one I thought was the best one.  It has all things Voodoo and then some.  There are books, sachet bags and yes Voodoo dolls.  All of these I am told can be used but I recommend to use with discretion.  If you don't know what you are doing, lets just say it could create a mess.  Still to any person or someone in your life who likes skulls this is the store for you. 

 

One of the top stores that people want to visit are the antique, jewelry and vintage stores.  There are many good ones but I have to admit that my favorite one was Trashy Diva.

   

Not only is it a store filled with Vintage clothing, it is a store that captures your imagination.  Each article of clothing is waiting for someone to take it to an exciting New Orleans event like a Jazz club or a fancy Mardi Gras Ball.  These are outfits meant to create memories.  It's not everybody's style to do vintage but it is in everybody's interest to have some fun and this store is. 

 

If you prefer something a little more high class and sophisticated, check out Violet's NOLA.This store has some beautiful dresses that screams movie star and posh.  So don't wait for your dream dress, get it here. 

 

Now sometimes there are people who don't want clothes of any kind or who are just hard to shop for.  There is a really nice place to go that sells crystals, aromatherapy and fossils.  This store is called Earth Odyssey.  You'll find some lovely all natural gifts that are both unique and thoughtful.  The idea of bringing nature and magic together is a Mystic's way of life.  Now this place will bring our old home of the Netherworld into this world.  And if you feel the need.  They have some very good psychic readings here.  After all, you can't come to New Orleans without considering getting a tarot card reading. 

 

So yes.  Shopping is a good way to spend at least one day of vacation on especially when you want to bring some of your experiences home with you and to share with the ones you love.  This city is a good place to shop no matter what your style, tastes or interests. 

New Orleans Post 1: The Food

New Orleans:  Now this is one of the most talked about cities in North America especially when it comes to food.  Now as I am sure you all know I am a vegetarian who still eats eggs and dairy.  In New Orleans the food here will mainly consists of seafood.  Though I do not eat that, I still pay attention to what people like.  So yes in terms of food this is probably more of a Siren Clan place but the Undead Clan (See previous post) will argue that this city is their domain. 

Despite the love of fish that this place has it is not impossible for a vegetarian to eat here.  The problem is that this city is busy this time of year so good luck finding a place that's available.  But here is a guide that I hope you will all try when you go on your culinary adventure in New Orleans.

Breakfast

The Most important meal of the day starts at the restaurant in my hotel, the Astor Crown Plaza.  This restaurant is called : The Bourbon House.  The menu is small but varied.  I decided to order the two egg breakfast.

Now this is a seemingly typical breakfast with the eggs and fruit cup but it is fresh, delicious and unforgettable.  What is unique is you get a really good taste of Cajun and Creole cooking starting with those potatoes as you see in the picture to the left.  These potatoes are my dream potatoes with those awesome spices.  I have to admit that I kept asking for these every breakfast that I had here. And of course, breakfast just isn't breakfast without a cup of (green) tea and an orange juice (not pictured here).  

Highly recommend this place for breakfast and yes my meat eaters and fish lovers.  You can get meat with these.  For us Veggie people we just ask for no meat.  (It's just that easy  :P)  This meal will keep you from being hungry for a long time.  It's not too large of a meal as you can see but it's a perfect size.  There is a niceness in knowing that you can finish your meal instead of having to box it up every single time.

The staff is very good here too.  Very friendly and ready to give you any suggestions or answer your questions.  If they don't have something they will find it for you.  When it comes to breakfast, go to the Bourbon House.

Lunch

Do you want the best burger of your whole exsistance?  The Bayou Burger is the place to go for a burger like you have never had in your life.  At this place you can choose all of your ingredients you want on your special burger (my favorites included the beer mustard, avocados and sautéed mushrooms) and even get to choose which patty would like.  It can be a veggie patty, chicken, beef or even fish.  Oh how wonderful is it to have these kinds of choices?  Even just writing about it now makes my mouth water like crazy.  Have a burger here and you will not be sorry.


Desserts and Treats

 
 


 No matter where you go, some day you will just want something sweet and tasty.  Go to the Café Beignet because this sweet French inspired coffee shop has a selection of lovely little desserts, pastries and fruit to satisfy a persons need for sugar.  As you can see I ordered the key line tart and was not sorry at all.  It was a combination of sweet and sour that satisfied every crazing craving that a lady can get.












Next in our culinary adventure is a pastry that New Orleans is really famous for which is sold at the incredibly famous Café Du Monde.  Now this is where these deep fried pastries called Beignets are. It is a very popular spot and always very busy no matter what time you go.  I myself have spent a few hours there waiting for these pastries.  So to say its busy is an understatement but worth it to try something new.  These pastries are just covered in a small mountain of icing sugar so they can be very sweet.  I myself am not a fan of deep fried stuff but this was worth trying.  So if you like these kinds of foods try them out.  What have you got to lose?

 

 
Supper

 

Now for dinner you are always wanting something that is perhaps not too heavy but satisfying.  My suggestion is going one of these places on Jackson Square like the Chartres House.  This is an outdoor meets indoor kind of restaurant.  The food is good, flavorful and fast while the staff is friendly, helpful and informative.  They are very good with directions and places to see. 

 I decided to have an appetizer since I wasn't that hungry.  This is the Spinach and Artichoke dip with fried bow tie pasta.  This was a dish that is a bit on the salty side but the dip is to die for.  now you may find this dip in many places but a true foodie will tell you that no recipe is exactly the same.  It is yummy and if you eat here, you are dining in a piece of history.

 

The Chartres House had everything.  It is a grocery store in 1873 that later becomes a favorite café for bohemian artists and writers (Tennessee Williams is a prime example).  It is a good place to enjoy some local flavor.  So check it out.

 

  

 Now if you really want to go to a fancy place where they make their staple; the Banana Foster then you want to go to Brennan's .  This isn't one of those hoity-toity places.  The people here are wonderful and really take care of you.  Myself and my companions have a very strict diets and nothing on the menu really appealed to us.  So we asked our waiter what he recommended and he helped us out big time and made sure that our food was exceptional.  You can't get treatment like that anywhere.  And the way they make your dessert right in front of you.  It was like you had a pyro-themed show in front of you. There we felt like queens so go there to feel like royalty yourselves.

Fast Food

Tracey's in the Garden District is said to have the best poi-boys that could be enjoyed.  After a long albeit good tour (See later post), a friend and I stopped at this place and got a look at where many locals like to hang out and have a beer.

  This place has the answer.  It is like one of those old fashioned hotdog stands.  A fun place to be with a really lax atmosphere.



 Now I have to admit I wasn't very adventurous today (at least I thought)  I just ordered some fried mushrooms and a salad.  It was very satisfying and it certainly does the job of filling you up.  A companion of mine had one of those famous poi-boys.  This is like a sub sandwich with lots of meat and flavorings.  So as he is a total guy, it is a safe bet that he enjoyed his meal too.

Conclusion

New Orleans is a place of culinary delights.  Their unique culture is certainly shown in this food.  There really isn't one meal I can say anything bad about.  You get introduced to new yet homey flavors, everything is cooked well and there is a lot of attention to detail in everything you get.  However, as I have said previously that it is a busy time when I went so you have to expect that is going to be hard to get into certain restaurants.  It is also hard to find vegetarian dishes so you do have to look but luckily the people are good and will help you find a place or make a dish in which your needs are met.  So I have to say that just eating here is an adventure all in itself.  Definitely come for the food.  

 

 

A shout out to the undead clan!

 On my trip to New Orleans, one of the biggest supernatural centres of this realm and you guys are sure making a name for yourselves here.  Some of you are praised and some of you are feared but one thing you all have in common in this neck of the swamps is that you make things interesting.

  

Now as all you know, the undead clan consists of vampires, ghosts, zombies and the many more beings that fill that list.  This is the clan that very few understand and that most humans over exaggerate with their stories.  I have taken a tour that describes some of what happened in New Orleans. (Details will be described in a later blog).  And you guys gave these poor souls a really big scare especially if they are talking about it a couple centuries later.  

Most of us mystics know that this clan is the most mysterious and misunderstood clans of them all.  You'll bump into these people now again and often times they do not attack you.  They are people just like anybody else.  the vampire (for example) needs blood to live just like humans need food but often times, the blood is collected in a way that no one dies nor are they harmed.  Places like blood donations for example is one way they collect it.  Sometimes they will have animal blood or tomato juice (the later is usually a diet drink for them).  

Ghosts are humans who are just stuck in a certain surreal immortality that can leave them lost or confused.  Sometimes not though. Those that know they are ghosts and wish to stay that way can "live" very happy and productive existences as  we see in the nether realm.  They mean no harm or I'll will just let them be.  

So yes,  many are quick to judge them without really talking to them or getting to know them.  Granted some are @$$#0|€£ but just like humans and other Mystics that's not all of them.  Many of them are good kind souls that wish no one any harm.  But keep up the good ghost stories guys we need the entertainment.  And please keep it fictional.