A BOAT TRIP DOWN BAYOU LAFOURCHE TO MADEWOOD PLANTATION HOUSE
We just returned from one of our several annual trips to Louisiana. I just have to tell you about the great trip I took with my sister-in-law Margaret and brother-in-law Julius Champagne. We took a ride down the longest street in the world Bayou Lafourche.
The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve National Park Service was our host. (phone 985-448-1375 for more information.) We departed from the Wetlands Acadian Culture Center in Thibodaux on a flat bottom inboard motor boat which was just built at the center last year. People were able to watch the construction in a large room next too the bayou. It had to be low so it could pass under five street bridges over the bayou to our final destination, Madewood Plantation. The boat hold 20+ people depending on the size of the people.
We set out up the bayou as the National Park Ranger narrated interesting historical facts along the way. Lafourche Bayou is 200 miles long with houses built on each side, of course now there is also one road on each side of the bayou. It is often called the longest main street in the world. Houses were built along both sides of the bayou.
We ended up a Madewood Plantation for a wonder lunch of Gumbo and Crawfish Etoufee, salad, veggies, coffee and bread pudding. This was served to us in the large formal dinning room. We toured the home which is now a bed and breakfast. They had 16 guests the previous night. Phone 1-985-369-7151 for information.
RECIPE FOR MADEWOOD CRAWFISH ETOUFERE`
ROUX: 1 cup flour and one Tablespoon cooking oil, 2 Tbsp. cooking oil, fresh seasoning 1/2 cup each chopped onion and bell peppers. 1 can chicken broth, 1/3 cup Vermouth or fine wine, 1 pound crawfish tails (or shrimp, chicken, or sausage) 3 cups of cooked rice.
Brown the flour and cooking oil to make a roux. Sautee seasoning with cooking oil then combine with roux. Add chicken broth and vermouth, mix well and then add crawfish tails. Add salt and pepper to taste. (some Tabasco?) Cook over low fire about 1 1/2 hours until crawfish is tender. Serve over rice, serves 5.
MADEWOOD PUMPKIN-YAM LAFOURCHE
1 cup of pumpkin 3 cups drained yams
3 medium apples, peeled, cored & sliced
1 cup sugar ½ cup raisins
½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ stick butter
Mix pumpkin and yams until smooth. Add apples, sugar, raisins, vanilla, cinnamon, and Nutmeg, mix until well blended. Melt butter and mix thoroughly. Bake 150 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Compliments of Madewood Plantation House (Bed & Breakfast) 4250 Hwy 308, Napoleonville, LA 70390 985-369-7151