Jay D's Bites: Roasted Carrot Hummus

by Liz Courville

This recipe for Roasted Carrot Hummus, inspired by Gov’t Taco’s “Magna Carrot” taco, is a fun and simple twist on something that’s delicious, nutritious and impressive. If you’re looking to spice up your hummus life (and you should be) – this recipe will be a hit! 

This hummus is savory, but slightly sweet at the same time thanks to the natural sweetness that the roasting brings out in the carrot. The Jay D’s Coffee/Chile Rub compliments the slightly sweet carrots, while adding a unique, spicy twist that in turn adds to the depth of flavor. Try it out and let us know what you think!

Roasted Carrot Hummus

vegan, gf

Ingredients:
1 15 oz can of chickpeas, rinsed well

1 cup carrots, thinly chopped
½ cup tahini
½ cup lemon juice
2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs tumeric powder
1 Tbs Jay D’s Coffee/Chile Rub
2 tsp garlic powder
Sea salt
Pepper

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat chopped carrots in olive oil, sea salt and pepper then lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast the carrots for 15-20 minutes or until they're soft.
In a food processor, pulse and blend all ingredients until smooth. Enjoy!

Jay D's Bites: Molasses Mustard Succotash

by Chef Jenn Breithaupt

“Sufferin' succotash!” Corn, beans, squash, hominy and other vegetables make up this Native American dish. Corn, beans and squash are known as the Three Sisters in agriculture because they grow together in synergy. The corn provides a structure for the beans to climb eliminating the need for poles. The beans give nitrogen to the soil that the other plants use, and the squash spreads along the ground, blocking the sunlight, preventing weeds from growing. Creating a dish with these vegetables allowed for the Native Americans to stay satisfied longer so they can utilize their energy.

I made this succotash with corn maque choux in mind, except heavy cream is added. The addition of Jay D’s Molasses Mustard gives it some color and a tang of acidity.

Molasses Mustard Succotash

serves 2-4

2 Tbs butter, unsalted
25.5 oz can hominy
15.5 oz can butter beans
1 ear corn, cut off cob
1 cup orange bell pepper, small diced
¼ cup jalapeño, small diced
1 clove fresh garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ cup Louisiana Molasses Mustard
¼ cup heavy cream

In a medium sauté pan, heat butter until bubbling, then add all vegetables. Sweat until soft. Add salt, black pepper, Jay D’s Molasses Mustard and heavy cream. Bring to boil, then reduce to simmer for 5-6 minutes. Serve hot with breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Jay D's Bites: Oven Roasted Barbecue Pork Chops

by Chef Aimee Tortorich

Last month, our friends at Compart Duroc brought some samples of their high-quality pork products. One that stood out immediately was their premium Frenched Loin that in their words is “the pinnacle of fine pork and is the most flavorful cut of the Compart Duroc line.”

I definitely have to agree, and when you have a badass product like this, the best thing to do is to keep things simple. I did a quick sear in a cast iron skillet, transferred it to the oven rubbed in Jay D’s Spicy and Sweet Rub and finished with Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce. The finished product was a moist, flavorful and tender as all get out.

If you can’t find this particular pork chop, that’s okay! Head to your local butcher like Iverstine Farms Butcher in Baton Rouge and get the best looking bone-in pork chop you can find.

Oven Roasted Barbecue Pork Chops

serves 2

1 Tbs avocado oil
2 Pork Chops, bone-in
2 Tbs Jay D’s Spicy and Sweet Rub
½ cup Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a cast-iron skillet over medium high heat, preheat avocado oil. Sear pork chops until a golden brown crust forms. Season liberally with rub. Roast in the oven at 400°F until internal temperature reaches 145°F. Coat pork chop with Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce; turn oven to broil and broil pork chop about 3 minutes; until sauce is caramelized. Remove from cast iron pan and allow to rest for about 4 minutes.

Jay D's Bites: Supreme Rice Salad with Molasses Mustard Vinaigrette

by Chef Jenn Breithaupt

This is one of my favorite salads to make! I first had this salad when I was attending culinary school at Louisiana Culinary Institute. Chef Mike told us we are going to prepare it for our salad course for lunch service and it captivated me; I couldn’t stop eating it. I thought this would be the perfect salad to incorporate Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard. Another reason why I love this recipe is because of the freshness it brings to my palate; it is perfect for this Spring!

Supreme Rice Salad with Molasses Mustard Vinaigrette

makes 6 cups

3 cups uncooked Supreme long grain rice
1 cup red onion, small diced
¾ cup orange bell pepper, small diced
¾ cup yellow bell pepper, small diced
2 Tbs garlic, minced
1 cucumber, seeded and small diced
¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ cup fresh basil, finely chopped

Cook rice according to package. Lay cooked rice on sheet pan to slightly cool. Combine rice with all vegetables and vinaigrette. Let rice salad marinade in dressing for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. Serve cold or room temperature. ENJOY!

For the vinaigrette:
Heaping ½ cup Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard
3 tsp salt
1 Tbs white wine vinegar
3 Tbs white balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs Jay D’s Blanc du Bois
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

In a blender or food processor, add mustard and salt. On low, gradually add both vinegars and Jay D’s Blanc du Bois. In a thin stream add extra virgin olive oil. Mix for 1 minute then transfer to salad and mix thoroughly.

Jay D's Bites: Parsnip-Potato Au Gratin

by Chef Jenn Breithaupt

Potatoes Au Gratin are always fun to create because of the layering. The Freret Beer Room in New Orleans was my inspiration for this dish. They serve it as a side, but it’s massive! For me, it had the perfect amount of gruyere cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! For this recipe, I used manchego cheese instead of gruyere fora little extra bite and added Jay D’s Molasses Mustard to tied together the sweetness and add a little tanginess to the dish.

Potato-Parsnip Au Gratin

serves 4

3 potatoes, ¼” rounds
3 parsnips, ¼” rounds
1 whole leek, sliced into half-rounds
8 cloves fresh garlic, minced
3 cups manchego cheese
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a small skillet, sauté leeks and garlic until fragrant. Put one layer of potatoes around the bottom of cast iron skillet. Then pour ¼ cup of heavy cream over potatoes. Next, sprinkle small handful of leek/garlic mixture and 1 cup of manchego cheese over potatoes. Place another layer of parsnips on top of cheese. Sprinkle another small handful of leeks and 1 cup of manchego cheese over parsnips. Pour the other ½ cup of heavy cream on top of parsnip layer. Make another potato layer, then sprinkle leeks/garlic and ½ cup of Manchego cheese on top. Take the Molasses Mustard and drizzle on top, then sprinkle remaining leeks/garlic and ½ cup of gruyere cheese. Press down on the au gratin so that all of the layers are compacted. Cover skillet with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Take foil off and continue baking until cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before chowing down.

Jay D's Bites: Fried Salmon Burger

by Chef Aimee Tortorich

I love cooking burgers at home, but I wanted to create a burger using only seafood. I decided to go with salmon as my protein not only for nutritional purposes, but also the flavor. This Japanese inspired dish was a fun play on a baked salmon roll that you would find in most sushi restaurants. The panko gave it a nice crunch and the Sriracha and Jay D’s Molasses Mustard aïoli added a punch of heat and sweetness. I added some sliced avocado, pickled cucumber and pickled carrot to round out all the flavors. For those looking for a fun fish idea, this one is a winner all around.

Fried Salmon Burger with Molasses Mustard Aïoli

serves 2

2 salmon fillets, boneless, skin-off
½ onion, small diced
2 Tbs fresh garlic, minced
1 Tbs avocado oil
2 eggs
2 cups seasoned panko breadcrumbs
1 cup all purpose flour
2 hamburger buns

For the aïoli:
¼ cup Jay D’s Molasses Mustard
2 Tbs Sriracha
½ cup mayo

Garnishes:
Sliced Avocado
Pickled cucumber
Pickled carrot

Heat a sauté pan on medium heat, add avocado oil and saute onion and garlic until soft. Add fillets to the pan and cook salmon on both sides until cooked through and starting to flake (about 10 minutes). Put salmon, onions and garlic in a bowl and let cool. Add one egg and ½ cup of breadcrumbs to the bowl and form into patties. If patties don’t form, add more breadcrumbs until they stay together.

Next, you’ll need to set up a breading station. You’ll need flour in a shallow dish, another dish with the beaten egg and one additional shallow dish for panko.

Dredge patties lightly in flour, shaking off the excess. One by one, dip in the beaten egg, coating completely and then roll in panko to coat.

Fry at 350F until golden brown. Build burgers with garnishes and aïoli and enjoy!

Jay D's Bites: Chicken Biscuit with Molasses Mustard Butter

by Chef Jenn Breithaupt
(original biscuit recipe by Chef Alex Hamman)

Everyone loves the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits from Whataburger, but why not make your own at home?! Chef Alex Hamman from the Louisiana Culinary Institute has the most amazing biscuit recipe (seriously, they call him King Biscuit) that he makes every Friday for faculty.

I asked him if I could utilize it to make a Molasses Mustard butter chicken biscuits and he was all for it. The fluffiness of the biscuit is harmonious with the fried chicken breast and the Molasses Mustard butter sends it over the top. The biscuit dough also does very well in the freezer if you want to make a batch of biscuits and save them for a rainy day breakfast.

Molasses Mustard Butter Chicken Biscuit

Makes 15 biscuits, 3½” 

For the biscuits:
4 cups bread flour
3¾ cups cake flour
3½ Tbs baking powder
1 Tbs + 1 tsp kosher salt
3 Tbs + 1 tsp sugar
3 sticks + ½ Tbs cold unsalted butter, cubed
3¼ cups buttermilk

For the chicken:
6 chicken breast, cut in half, flattened
1½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp black pepper
2 eggs, whisked
Canola oil for frying

For the butter:

¾ cup Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard
2 sticks unsalted butter

For the biscuits:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Keep all ingredients as cold as possible!

In a medium mixing bowl, combine both bread and cake flour, baking powder, salt and sugar from the biscuit ingredients. Using a pastry blender or your hands, cut cold butter into flour mixture until butter is the size of peas. Add buttermilk and mix with your hands until shaggy. Cover and rest for 20 minutes. Roll out dough on a floured surface and fold once (to create layers). Roll out again to 1-1¼” thick and cut into 3½” circles. When cutting biscuits out, DO NOT TWIST CUTTER. Just simply press down and lift cutter back up. Place biscuits about ½” apart on greased baking sheet and bake until golden brown.

For the chicken:
Heat canola oil to 350°F in a skillet or table-top fryer. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour, place in egg-wash, then dredge back through flour. Fry chicken until golden, brown, and delicious (about 4-5 minutes).

For the butter:
Soften butter and mix in Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard.

Open biscuit up and slather butter on both halves. Place fried chicken breast on biscuit and put the other half of biscuit on top of chicken and enjoy your chicken biscuit sandwich!

Jay D's Bites: Duck & Leek Dumpling with Blanc du Bois Blueberry Sauce

by Chef Jenn Breithaupt

These dumplings make an excellent appetizer with a pop of color. You can stuff a dumpling with a plethora of fillings; dumplings are delicious. I chose duck and leek because they pair very well together. The fat from the duck and the acidity from the leek create a great balance. An alternative way to get some color on them is to poach them or quickly sear in a hot skillet.

Duck & Leek Dumpling with Blanc du Bois Blueberry Sauce

makes about 25 dumplings

2 duck breasts, small diced, skin off (reserve skin)
1¾ cup leeks, thin half moons
2 Tbss shallots, minced
½ cup carrots, small diced
1 rib celery, small diced
1 Tbs fresh garlic, minced
⅓ cup Jay D’s Blanc du Bois
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
25 small wonton wrappers
1 egg
1 Tbs water

For the blueberry sauce:

1½ cups Jay D’s Blanc du Bois
1 tsp honey
1 tsp salt
6 oz blueberries, crushed

Take skin off duck breasts and place skin into skillet. Turn heat to low and allow for skin to fully render fat (this may take a while). Once fat has rendered, discard skin, but keep the fat.

Add small diced duck breasts, shallots, carrots, celery and garlic to skillet with duck fat. Cook until vegetables are soft, duck is cooked and there is no liquid left in skillet. Set aside and allow to cool.

Whisk 1 egg and 1 Tbs of water. Set aside to be used for egg wash for dumplings. Put wonton wrapper down so one corner is pointing towards the top (diamond-shaped) and brush along edges with egg wash. Place 1 Tbs of filling in the middle and take the bottom corner to meet the top corner to form a triangle. Seal on all three sides and brush with egg wash.

In a saucepot, bring water to a simmer. Poach dumplings until dough is soft.

To make the blueberry sauce, combine blueberries, Jay D’s Blanc du Bois, honey and salt in a saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer for about 15 minutes until thickened and reduced by half. Serve over dumplings or as a dipping sauce.

Jay D's Bites: Chargrilled Oysters with Blanc Du Bois Butter

by Chef Aimee Tortorich

The Gulf of Mexico produces some of the world’s best oysters, so it was a no-brainer for this round of recipe development. I picked out a dozen beautiful oysters from a local seafood market, Tony’s Seafood and made a simple wine butter featuring Jay D’s Blanc du Bois that complemented the natural flavor of the oysters. Simple, delicious, and quite the treat!

Chargrilled Oysters in Blanc Du Bois Butter

1 dozen(12) Gulf oysters, shucked and on the halfshell
1 stick butter, unsalted
½ cup Parmesan cheese
2 Tbs chives, minced
½ cup Jay D’s Blanc du Bois
1 Tbs fresh garlic, minced

For the Blanc du Bois Butter:
Allow butter to soften and combine with parmesan, chives, Jay D’s Blanc du Bois and garlic. Mix very well then put in fridge to harden.

Shuck oysters and leave on half shell. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to each oyster and grill or broil until butter is bubbly and slightly browned.

Jay D's Bites: Pork Egg Rolls

Easy to eat, and a crowd favorite, these pork and cabbage egg rolls are a spin on the classic European dish, cabbage rolls. Using ground pork and cabbage along with Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet Rub, this eggroll packs a punch of flavor. The Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard  mixed with sour cream adds a nice tang.

Pork Cabbage with Molasses Mustard Dipping Sauce

makes ~14 egg rolls

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

1 package of egg roll wraps

1 lb ground pork
½ head/2 cups cabbage, diced
¼ cup carrot, small dice
1 small onion, diced
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
2 Tbsp Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet Rub
½ cup tomato sauce
½ Tbsp kosher salt
1 egg, beaten for egg wash

Molasses Mustard Sour Cream Dipping Sauce:
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard
Pinch of salt

Heat canola oil to 350℉ in a skillet. In another skillet, brown ground pork. Add carrots, onions, and garlic, then saute until soft. Add Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet Rub, tomato sauce and salt. Cook for 6 minutes, then set aside to cool. Take an egg roll wrap and brush each side with egg wash. Place 2 tablespoons of filling on wrapper and fold up the corner. Fold the left and right corners into the middle and continue to roll. Fry both sides of egg roll until golden brown and delicious. Serve with molasses mustard sour cream.

Jay D's Bites: Brie en Croute with Barbecue Fig Jam

Who doesn’t love cheese wrapped in dough?! My favorite part about preparing this dish was cutting open the crust and watching brie ooze out. We transformed this mild wheel of cheese into hot, gooey comfort food. The sweet-tart fig sauce gives contract to this appetizer and will make this a must-have when hosting friends and family. Serve with your favorite crackers!

Brie en Croute with Barbecue Fig Jam

Serves 8-10

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

1 Wheel of Brie cheese

1 Package of Fillo dough, at least 10 sheets
1 egg, beaten
Barebecue Fig Jam
8 whole fig preserves
½ cup Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce

Preheat oven to 350℉. Combine fig preserves with Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce in a small pot and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and blend until smooth. Stack 10 Sheets of Fillo dough and place the wheel of Brie Wrap at the center. Fold up corners to completely encase the Brie. Brush egg wash over dough and bake until golden brown. Once out of the oven, cover the top with Barbecue Fig Jam.

Jay D's Bites: Irish Stew

The newest product to hit Jay’s online store, the Coffee Chile Rub, has everything you crave - from the deep flavors of locally roasted coffee to the kick of spicy peppers, this rub is a go-to for anything from braised stews to seared steaks. This Irish Beef Stew is a perfect weeknight favorite for the whole family, especially around St. Patrick's Day!

Irish Stew

Serves 4-6

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

3 lbs beef stew meat
2 cups onions, small diced
2 cups celery, small diced
1 cup carrots, small diced
12 oz stout beer
2 Tbsp flour
1 quart beef stock
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
3 oz tomato paste
2 Tbsp Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub
4 cups small fingerling or small red potatoes, quartered
3 cups carrots and parsnips, ½” circles
Parsley, finely chopped

Toss beef with salt and black pepper. Sear beef until golden brown. Add onions, celery and carrots; saute for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle 2 tbsp of flour and slightly toast the flour by continually stirring. Add beer, stock, Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub, garlic and tomato paste. Simmer for 1-2 hours. Add root vegetables (carrot and parsnip slices) and simmer for 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Jay D's Bites: Molasses Mustard Hollandaise

Adding Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard to a classic butter sauce was an absolutely delicious idea! This sauce is tasty on anything and everything: vegetables, meats, seafood or your favorite dish. The fat from the butter is balanced well with the acidity from the Molasses Mustard. This hollandaise came out a rural, rusty-orange color and is an excellent contrast over bright green asparagus and a poached egg.

Molasses Mustard Hollandaise

Serves 8-10

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten.
1½ sticks unsalted butter, melted until foamy, foam skimmed
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice.
2 Tbsp Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard
1 tsp Slap Ya Mama hot sauce
Kosher salt

In a saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. In a stainless steel bowl, whisk egg yolks over hot the water bath. Using a small ladle, slowly pour a thin stream of butter into egg yolks while whisking continuously. Keep butter warm (not hot) during process. Add lemon juice after the third ladle of butter is whisked into egg yolks. After all butter is added, add Molasses Mustard, hot sauce and kosher salt to taste. Whisk until uniform color.

Jay D's Bites: Coffee Rub Braised Short Ribs with Grits

You can never go wrong with the enticing aroma of falling-off-the-bone beef short ribs. The longer the short ribs are braised, the more they pack in flavor. The sweetness of the barbecue sauce paired well Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub to balance the richness of the grits. We served the short ribs with the braising liquid or jus so to saturate the creamy grits. The flavor complexity of this dish is ideal for your next family meal or dinner party.

Coffee Chile Rub Braised Beef Short Ribs with Grits

Serves 6

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

6 beef short ribs

½ cup onions, small dice
½ cup celery, small dice
½ cup carrots, small dice
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
¼ cup green onion whites
1 quart beef stock, divided
2 Tbsp Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub
1 cup Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce
1 cup grits
1 quart heavy cream
Pinch kosher salt

Brown short ribs over medium high heat, with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove and set aside. Cook onion, celery, carrots and garlic until soft. Deglaze pan with ½ cup beef stock. Add Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub and Barbecue Sauce. Add the rest of beef stock and braise 3-4 hours covered.

Instructions for Grits:
In a saucepan, heat up 1 quart heavy cream to a simmer and whisk in grits and salt. Simmer about 20 min or until absorbed, stirring occasionally.

Jay D's Bites: Pimento Cheese Cornbread

Cornbread is a staple in the typical Southerner’s diet. It is used to soak up your favorite stews, as a side with your collard greens, or simply serve it with butter for breakfast. While delicious just as it is, cornbread adapts to all kinds of personal touches. So we added our famous pimento cheese to this cast iron cornbread. The star in this recipe is Jay D’s Spicy and Sweet Rub; mix it in the butter slathered on top before chowing down.

Pimento Cheese Cornbread

Serves 8-12

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

1½ cups cornmeal
½ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter, melted
2 cups buttermilk
2 eggs
16 oz Jay D’s Pimento Cheese (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350℉. Combine dry ingredients. Add all wet ingredients plus pimento cheese. Mix until combined. Place in buttered cast iron skillet. Bake 35-40 min or until golden brown and is pulling away from skillet.

Jay D’s Pimento Cheese:
2 Tbsp Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard
12 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
12 oz Smoked Gouda Cheese, grated
1, 4-oz jar diced pimentos, rinsed

Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and allow to marry flavors for at least 30 minutes.

Jay D's Bites: Bánh Mi Burger

Burgers are one of the most versatile dishes anyone can make. From the type of protein used to the flavor profile, a burger can take on many forms. We wanted to steer away from the traditional type and do a play on a Vietnamese sandwich favorite, a Bánh Mi. We seasoned our pork patty with Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet Rub along with a hint of ginger and green onions. For the sauces we used a cilantro yogurt and converted Jay D’s BBQ sauce into an Asian glaze then topped it with pickled carrots, cucumber and jalapeño.

Bánh Mi Burger

Serves 4

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

Pickling Brine:
1 cup water
1 cup rice wine vinegar
¼ cup sugar
1 large carrot
1 cucumber
1 Jalapeno

Using a vegetable peeler, cut ribbons of carrot and cucumber. Thinly slice the jalapeños. Put carrots, cucumbers, and jalapenos in separate containers. In a saucepan combine water, rice wine vinegar and sugar over medium heat. Heat until sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool. Once cooled, pour brine into each container until vegetables are submerged. Keep covered and refrigerated overnight.

Pork patty:
1 lb ground pork
¼ cup green onion
1 tsp ginger, minced
2 Tbsp Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet Rub
¼ cup panko

Season pork and form 4 patties using recipe above. Sear on each side until golden brown and cook for 4-6 minutes total.

Cilantro Yogurt Dipping Sauce:
1 cup Greek yogurt
½ bunch cilantro, finely chopped

Asian BBQ Sauce:
1 cup Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce
3 oz pineapple juice
2 Tbsp dark brown sugar
1½ Tbsp fresh ginger, minced
3½ Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp mirin
2 tsp cornstarch

Combine all ingredients and simmer for 15 min.

Top patty with BBQ sauce. Toast bun, add cilantro yogurt on both sides, and top patty with pickled vegetables.

Jay D's Bites: Molasses Mustard Beer Cheese

by Jay Ducote

I'm excited to share that I've teamed up with Morton Salt to help #EraseFoodWaste, which is especially timely with The Big Game taking place tomorrow! Did you know that this Sunday is the second biggest food consumption day of the year? Yep, only beat by Thanksgiving! That means lots of leftovers, and lots of great options for next-day meals to reuse that extra food!

If you're entertaining like me, I can pretty much guarantee that you've already got two of the most essential ingredients for any football party: beer and cheese! I’m making my Molasses Mustard Beer Cheese - the perfect dip for pretzel bites to enjoy during The Big Game. The best part about this recipe? You can use the leftover pretzel buns and beer cheese to make pulled pork sandwiches for Monday night dinner!

Along with Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard, this dip featuring both beer and cheese will warm your body and soul no matter who you're cheering for. We used Avery Brewing Co. TWEAK Stout to add a deep flavor along with the Molasses Mustard, which balances well with the tangy and sweet notes of the mustard, and a touch of Morton's Kosher Salt to bring it all together.

For a perfect dip, we used some local pretzel brioche buns from Rösch Bakehaus, but you can use whatever you’d like.

Molasses Mustard Beer Cheese

Serves 10-12

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

4 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp flour
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard
12 oz stout beer
1 tsp horseradish
1 quart warm milk
3 cloves garlic, microplaned/finely grated
1 tsp onion powder
2 Tbsp Morton kosher salt

In a saucepan, combine butter and flour over medium heat to make a blonde roux; stir constantly. Add milk, stout beer, horseradish, garlic, Molasses Mustard and dried seasonings. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Turn off heat and whisk in cheese.

Jay D's Bites: Spicy & Sweet Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts are the perfect salty snack for your upcoming Super Bowl party and crawfish boils. In this addictive southern staple we used locally grown peanuts and featured Jay D’s Spicy and Sweet Rub that will leave you lickin’ your fingers. Enjoy them hot or cold!

Spicy & Sweet Boiled Peanuts

Serves 8-10

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

1½ cups salt, more to taste

2 lbs raw or green peanuts, in shell
5 oz Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet Rub

If using raw peanuts, allow to soak overnight. If using green peanuts, soaking overnight is not necessary. In a small pot pour enough water over peanuts so that they are covered. Bring to boil, then add salt and rub. Reduce to simmer and cover for 6 hours or until very soft. Reserve a small amount of cooking liquid to store with peanuts. Store in airtight container and refrigerate.

Jay D's Bites: Black Bean Chili

When it comes to comfort food during the winter, we think of chili. We love that you can use different proteins and make it unique to you, especially during Louisiana hunting season. The depth of flavor coming from all of the different vegetables in this chili will have you going back for more. The chipotle and guajillo peppers from Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub gives this dish a kick of heat. This colorful, heart warming chili will satisfy your comfort food craving all winter long!

Black Bean Chili

Serves 4-6

Photo Credit: Jordan Hefler Photography

2 Tbsp canola oil
2 lb beef stew meat
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 cup green bell pepper, diced
1 ear corn (off cob)
1 cup carrots, diced
¼ cup jalapeño, seeded and diced
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
2 Tbsp tomato paste
28 oz can tomato sauce
15 oz can diced tomatoes
5 Tbsp Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub
2 Tbsp chili powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1¼ cup canned black beans
1 cup chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste
1 lime, wedged for garnish
1 diced avocado for garnish
½ bunch cilantro, chopped for garnish

Heat canola oil and brown beef with salt and pepper to taste. Do not overload the pan, brown in batches to prevent steaming. Remove beef from pan and set aside. Add onions, bell peppers, carrots, jalapeños, corn and tomato paste to pan. Over medium heat, cook for 6 minutes stirring frequently. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub, chili powder, cayenne and balsamic vinegar and bring to boil. Add black beans and chicken stock, then bring back to boil. Reduce to simmer and allow chili to cook 45 minutes to 3 hours. Garnish with lime wedge, diced avocado and chopped cilantro.

Avery Brewing Co. Beer Pairing Dinner at The Gregory

by Paige Johannessen

A few nights ago we were thrilled to attend a beer pairing dinner featuring Avery Brewing Co. at The Watermark in downtown Baton Rouge. I have had a couple of Avery Brewing’s beers and have always been impressed by the quality and creativity of the brewery. The Boulder, CO based brewery opened in 1993 and boasts 30 beers on tap at their brewery at any given time.

For the tasting we were seated in the private dining room adjacent to The Gregory. I know this post is all about Avery Brewing and our wonderful dinner, but I just have to say one thing: THAT ROOM! I drool every time I walk by that beautiful room and it’s floor to ceiling wine cellar display. If you haven’t walked around The Watermark and The Gregory, I highly recommend the trip downtown. The amount of detail and nods to Louisiana Trust & Savings Bank headquarters (the original owners of the building) is very impressive. There’s hand-painted ceiling murals and gorgeous marble details throughout the building. Not to mention the old bank vault replicas adorning one of their meeting spaces.

Now, about the dinner:

To start off, the tables were decorated with bowls of fried pork rinds tossed in Jay D’s Spicy and Sweet BBQ Rub. Needless to say, we loved them and ate them all and can’t wait to make our own.




The first course was a yellowtail tiradito paired with a Raspberry Sour. This delicate dish of thinly sliced raw fish in a spicy sauce was bursting with flavor. Chef made his own beer vinegar from the Avery Brewing Raspberry Sour that added a fun element to the depth of flavors.

Tiradito - yellowtail crudo, raspberry beer vinegar, ‘el gose’ aji sauce, guasaca, cancha corn

The next course was a first for me, octopus tacos! I was unsure how the flavors would mesh but the combination of octopus, peach and blue cheese was surprisingly delicious; and it’s pretty fun to say “octo taco” (don’t be ashamed, give it a try). This dish was paired with Avery Brewing’s Liliko'i Kepolo, a fun tropical island twist to the spicy traditional witbier. The aroma and notes of passionfruit were a nice compliment to this funky dish.

Octo Tacos - clementine lemongrass pulpo, peach salsa fresca, american blue cheese

For the third course, chef came out with bowls of green harissa topped with beer poached meatballs. The real show stopper of this dish was the mint chutney. The lamb sausage blend of the meatballs with the mint chutney was so satisfying and a nod to growing up with a mother who regularly cooked lamb roasts topped with a delicate mint jelly. The best. 

Merguez Meatballs - beer poached meatballs, green & red harissa, haloumi, mint chutney, grilled flatbread

This dish was paired with Avery’s Maharaja IPA. This imperial IPA is mighty, packing a 10% ABV punch. As Avery Brewing explains “The Maharaja flaunts his authority over a deranged amount of hops: tangy, vibrant and pungent along with an insane amount of malted barley – fashioning a dark amber hue and exquisite malt essence.” 

For the main course, we were brought a beautiful twist on the traditional lomo saltado. This traditional Peruvian dish combines marinated strips of sirloin with onions, tomatoes, french fries, and is typically served with rice. We were served a thick and buttery cut of seared beef over a bed of popcorn rice with purple frites as a fun compliment on the side. The main dish was paired with The White Rascal, Avery Brewing’s flagship beer. The Belgian style white ale is unfiltered and spiced with coriander and Curaçao orange peel, producing a refreshing classic ale.

Lomo Saltado - seared beef, soy aji gravy, purple frites, aji popcorn rice, charcoal roasted peppers, coriander

The dessert course was certainly the most aesthetically pleasing. The beer-misu came decorated to look like a frothy beer. It was too cute. The rich hazelnut chocolate with mascarpone cream was the perfect mate for Avery’s Vanilla Bean Stout. It was a heavy dessert but too good to put down. 

Beer-misu - espresso vanilla stout, mascarpone cream, hazelnut chocolate, cocoa nibs

Thanks to The Watermark for inviting us to this impressive beer pairing dinner. We can’t wait to see what they will come up with next. Check their Facebook for upcoming culinary events, you won’t be disappointed!