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| One for me and one for you. |
The Background
Bob was a firefighter for 24 years but was forced to retire after he "sustained an injury that couldn't be repaired". He was 48 years old at the time. Since he was the firehouse cook, he decided to put all of his hit recipes together in a cookbook titled "If you can't stand the heat: A New Orleans firefighter's cookbook". (This cookbook is AWESOME.) Besides his background as the firehouse cook, he has a long history of eating really good food both with his family and, of course, in New Orleans.
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| Hi, Bob! Be careful with that knife! |
The reason I am excited is three-fold: 1) New Orleans, 2) It's an awesome cookbook, as I've already hinted, and 3) I might get a movie deal.
New Orleans
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| St. Louis Cathedral, 1720 |
There haven't been too many places I've traveled outside of the United States, but one of those places was Paris back in 1999. The closest thing to Paris in the United States, to me anyway, is New Orleans. For our 11th anniversary, we went to New Orleans. Once in the French Quarter, I felt like I was stepping back in time in many parts, especially since all the buildings are still only two to three stories high. Besides having fun exploring the sights of the city and listening to jazz, we ate good, good, good, goooood food.
I feel like I can eat that good, good, good food again, only without having to travel all the way to New Orleans. And the reason? Mr. Medina's cookbook.
The Cookbook
This cookbook reminds me of another cookbook that I have that, until now, was my favorite. That one was "Southern Basics: Traditional Southern Food for Today" by Martha Phelps Stamps. I bought that one at a plantation near Nashville. The reason I love both of these cookbooks is because they're conversational. The books are easy to read and the cooks toss in lots of details that help you make the dish like they would. There are personal stories in there, too.
When I received Mr. Medina's cookbook, I devoured the pages just about. I want to cook just about every one of the recipes in there. He has the traditional New Orleans fare, like shrimp creole and crawfish etouffee, but also has recipes for shrimp and crab martini, pot stickers, cheese grits (with shrimp? mmmmm...), mandarin chicken, fish tacos and a famous New Orleans firefighter recipe known as "Urky Lurky".
At the back of the book, I love, love, love that he has a glossary that explains lots of cooking terms like "au gratin", "Cajun cooking" and "bracciole" in a way that makes you feel like he is sitting across from you to explain it in his terms. And doesn't make you feel dumb.
(This is the type of cookbook that I might read from cover to cover first, like a novel or something. Love it.)
I have had the book less than one week and have already made:
Flashover Seasoning
(his own personal seasoning)
(his own personal seasoning)
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| Take a hike, Tony Chachere! |
Balsamic Vinaigrette
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| Get lost, Wishbone! |
Smothered Okra & Tomatoes with Shrimp
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| Who's Paula Deen?? |
and I plan on making Chili Squash tonight and tons of other stuff in the weeks ahead.
The Movie Deal
Maybe if I make all of the recipes in this book and document it on this blog, someone from Paramount Pictures will call me and ask to make a "Julie & Julia" sequel, only it will be named "Kelley & Bob" and the movie will take place in Southern Louisiana. I guess our movie title doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it? Yeah, you're right. They won't call. Excuse me while I bawl my eyes out.
*Sniffle.* I'm better now. Anyway, you want this cookbook now, don't you? How could you not? Even if you aren't a cook, you will want it to give to someone else OR keep it for yourself. It may inspire you to get back in the kitchen! The book has been signed by Mr. Medina even!
To buy it for $29.99? Go HERE.
To get it for free? Just comment. Just leave a comment below and I will pick one person that will receive it for free using random.org. You can enter until Sunday, January 15th, at 10 p.m.
Let's help get this man his own cooking show!
28 people eligible for free Pepto Bismol:
What I wouldn't give to eat any thing other than cardboard right now...bloody gallbladder...
Everything sounds soooo yummy. What surgeon do I have to sleep with to get this gallbladder out and all the recipes in this cookbook in mah belly?!
Who?
I hope be gets his show!!!
I am a food show whore.
as long as he wears that sexy firefighter uniform (esp the pants and the suspenders and the hot hot hot hat) i am ALL ABOUT his new show. i'll even be in the front row of the audience doing all the applauding, kinda like the laugh track thing.
Chili squash sounds GOOOOOOD! I love trying new recipes. It is the only way I enjoy cooking.
"Kelley & Bob" sounds intriguing as a movie title. Maybe a subtitle like "Like Julie & Julia, only hotter" would help. Or "Who needs Paula Dean when these two are around?" Or how about "NOLATX Hotness" ??
Maybe if you change your name to Bobbie, you might get that movie deal. Just a suggestion. I'm just trying to help is all.
Sounds like myy kind of cookbook!
Wow, my husband really needs to step up his firefighting/cooking skills.
My husband is an ex-firefighter from Louisiana...will that earn me an extra entry? ;)
I think this would be a better movie than that "Julie" one. It would have better food and better personalities. And, cookbooks are never a boring read...
I would love to win this cookbook.
Good luck to your friend! It sounds like a great idea for a cookbook. Is that '5 alarm' Chili btw? haha.
Don't give up on those big screen dreams just yet. Hollywood *loves* to recycle/remake ideas, so keep cooking! :)
Lol, you had me going on the movie deal and I sped-read to get to #3!! This cookbook sounds amazing - I bet he's a great cook to have kept all those hungry guys happy :)
How about this title for the movie: "The Kitchen is Smelly and the Cook is Kelley!" Nah, we can't omit Bob. How about "Bob's Excellent Cookbook and Kelley's Transparent Ploy To Get a Movie Deal!" At least it comports with Truth-in-Advertising laws... These dishes sound great, when are you having all of your loyal fans over to sample them?!
I would love to get this cookbook! Looks like good eats to me! - Tiffany Martin
I would love to win this cookbook! It sounds great!
I have to admit, I'm intrigued. Which is especially impressive, because I didn't recognize a single kind of food that you described as being in his book!
New Orleans is Mecca for foodies. It's bound to be a great cookbook! I'm in!
This cookbook sounds perfect for me since anytime I cook the fire department usually ends up arriving at some point.
Yum! Those recipes sound great (I'm a sucker for making my own spices/sauces). Plus, it sounds like a neat book! And who doesn't love New Orleans?
There is nothing better than Louisiana cooking. Living in Pineville I can get all the fresh ingredients I need for all the La. dishes. Would LOVE this book.
I love going to NOLA too! And the food? OMG, it's sooo goood!!! Don't discard Paramount yet, Harry Connick, Jr. hails from NOLA, start there and move your way up! HA!!! I crack myself up!
Oh me me!! Maybe this will be just what I need to get out of my cooking funk!
oooooh pick me. My dad was a firefighter but they never had a "cool". They just did it themselves. Like my father would cook for himself the 2 nights that he worked. All of the guys did. We don't live in a big city. Maybe you have to be a big city fire department to cook like that!
Just went to NOLA in October. I had to eat my way out of there! So delish I want to go back for my wedding anniversary. Can't wait to try this cookbook.
Ew, how cool is that. And good for you for being bold. Go Kelley!
Since I have a brother who is a Houston Firefighter and an amazing cook, I know from experience what awesome cooks they are. I would love a book!!!!
I'm REALLY slow. I just noticed I had this reply feature. Awesome! So, your dad was a firefighter, too? Yeah, maybe it's in big city places like NOLA. I will have to ask around. That's interesting!
(If you get this reply by e-mail, will you let me know??)
It really is good! Hope you get it. :)
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