Hey there collegiettes! If you didn’t already know, Tulane’s event program through Student Affairs has tons of free, fun activities for students looking to explore New Orleans and its culture. So far, I have been to three plays from the Broadway series, a concert from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and a painting class. It’s a great way to get involved, make plans, and meet new people. And let’s face it—tuition here is pretty steep, and it just keeps climbing, so we should all take advantage of the programs that we’re paying for! There is something offered for everyone, whether it’s the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues, a pottery class, or a free trip to the WWII Museum. They are all fantastic, but this past Saturday, I went to a cooking class at the New Orleans School of Cooking that has been the best trip yet.
The whole experience was essentially a fusion between eating at a hibachi grill and watching Rachel Ray on the Food Network. We were seated and given our menus for the night, complete with the recipes and a section to take extra notes. Our chef Harriet, a cute old lady and New Orleans native, was hysterical, and simultaneously gave us an entertaining history lesson about New Orleans and its people while teaching us how to cook local dishes. On the menu for the night were a crab and corn bisque, sausage and chicken jambalaya, mini pecan pies, and pralines. Her timing was excellent, and we always had something to munch on while we watched her cook. She made a perfect roux effortlessly, and taught us cooking tricks that most of us had never thought of. It was dinner and a show. The food was fantastic, and so was Harriet! For only $24 dollars a person, it might be something unique, fun, and affordable that visiting parents or friends might be interested in—you can only take your guests to Café Du Monde and Jackson Square so many times, you know?
Regardless of whether or not you take a cooking class, get out in the city and enjoy it! And if you love the local food as much as I do, it’s worth at least trying to learn how to make it. Harriet’s pralines seemed easy enough to make, and I can’t wait to try my hand at them over spring break! If you’re interested in trying to make them too, here’s the recipe. Happy cooking!
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup of sugar
- ¾ cup of light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup of milk (you can substitute soy, if you want!)
- 6 tbsp. of butter
- 1 ½ cup of pecans
- 1 tsp. of vanilla
Procedure:
Combine all ingredients and bring to a “softball stage”, which is about 250 degrees, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
Stir constantly until mixture thickens, becomes creamy and cloudy, and the pecans stay suspended. Spoon out on buttered wax paper. They will harden within minutes, and then they are ready to enjoy!