A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-17-03...Louisiana - "Come as you are, leave different."

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine, FreeTheHostages ~

It's FRiday and we hope you will join us as we take a cyber-tour of another great state in this Union of ours. As we discover and spotlight each of our 50 states we also salute the proud FReepers who call their state 'home'.

Over the past few months the "Finest" hostesses have each profiled their home states (Dutchess will be spotlighting Michigan soon), and I will be presenting the other states in random order. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your state. I would love to have your input on what you would like to see highlighted.

These are the states we have presented to date:

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada

08-26-03 Washington DC 09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico 10-14-03 Georgia

Come along with us today as we head down south and tour the "Pelican State".

Jambalaya
Possum Rag
LeDance De Mardi Gras
House of the Rising Sun

How Louisiana came to be...

The Louisiana region was settled by Indians in prehistoric times, at least as early as 6,000 years ago. At the time of European exploration in the 16th century, there were more than 10,000 Indians in Louisiana. However, authentic recorded history of this area doesn't actually begin until 1682. It was then that Sierra de La Salle, the French explorer, reached the mouth of the Mississippi, claimed all its drainage basin for France, and named the area Louisiana to honor Louis XIV.

Many flags have flown over what
is now the state of Louisiana....

No other state has a more varied or colorful past than Louisiana. The state has been governed under 10 different flags beginning with Hernando de Soto's claim of the region for Spain. La Salle later claimed it for Bourbon France and over the years Louisiana was at one time or another subject to the Union Jack of Great Britain, the Tricolor of Napoleon, the Lone Star flag of the Republic of West Florida and the fifteen stars and stripes of the United States. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Louisiana became an independent republic for six weeks before joining the Confederacy.

Earlier, in 1803, Louisiana had become a part of the United States because of the region's importance to the trade and security of the American mid-west. New Orleans and the surrounding territory controlled the mouth of the Mississippi River down which much of the produce of the mid-west traveled to reach market. To get the vital region in American hands, President Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase with Napoleon.

With the acquisition of Louisiana, Jefferson nearly doubled the size of the fledgling U.S. and made it a world power. Later, 13 states or parts of states were carved out of the Louisiana Purchase territory.

The state flag of Louisiana... The design consists of the pelican group from the state seal, in white and gold, and a white ribbon bearing the state motto, "Union, Justice, and Confidence", on a field of a solid blue. This flag was adopted in 1912.

Baton Rouge became the capitol of Louisiana in 1846 and remained so until 1862 and the onset of the Civil War. The capitol changed locations several times and Baton Rouge was designated the permanent capitol in 1879. A bit of trivia.....the capitol building is the tallest of any state capitol - it is 450 feet tall with 34 floors.

What comes to mind when you think of Louisiana? Southern Belles and beautiful plantations? Bayous, alligators and crawfish? Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street? Mint juleps, shrimp boats and Jambalaya? Because I love food, especially spicy hot food, when I think of Louisiana, my thoughts turn to Cajun cookin'- or, is it Creole cookin'? And, what's the difference anyway?

Well, according to this website, "ABOUT LOUISIANA CUISINE"......"Most Louisiana chroniclers claim the answer is simple. Many Creoles were rich planters and their kitchens aspired to grande cuisine. Their recipes came from France or Spain as did their chefs. By using classic French techniques with local foodstuffs, they created a whole new cuisine, Creole cooking."


"On the other hand, the Acadians, pronounced (uh-CADE-ee-uns), later contracted to "Cajun", were a tough people used to living under strenuous conditions. They tended to serve strong country food prepared from locally available ingredients. It was pungent, peppery and practical since it was all cooked in a single pot. Thus Cajun cuisine was born.

There is one rule that both the Creoles and Cajuns agree upon and that is that there is no one rule and no one recipe when it comes to matters of food. There are hundreds of different recipes for gumbo, jambalaya, turtle soup and they are all right because no one is wrong. Privately, they know that everything they cook is original, because their kitchens are kitchens of "ad lib". They are experimenting, creating, changing, always trying to make it taste better."

"When the taste
changes with every
bite and the last
bite tastes as good
as the first,
....that's Cajun."
- Paul Prudhomme




So, there you have it, that's the difference between Cajun and Creole cuisine. :-)

Famous Louisianians
Louis Armstrong musician, New Orleans
Geoffrey Beene fashion designer, Haynesville
Truman Capote writer, New Orleans
Kitty Carlisle singer, actress, New Orleans
Van Cliburn concert pianist, Shreveport
Fats Domino musician, New Orleans
Bryant Gumbel TV newscaster, New Orleans
Lillian Hellman playwright, New Orleans
Al Hirt trumpeter, New Orleans
Mahalia Jackson gospel singer, New Orleans
Dorothy Lamour actress, New Orleans
Jerry Lee Lewis singer, Ferriday
Huey P. Long politician, Winnfield
Wynton Marsalis musician, New Orleans
Jelly Roll Morton jazz musician, composer, New Orleans
Huey Newton black activist, New Orleans
Paul Prudhomme chef, Opelousas
Cokie Roberts journalist, New Orleans
Kordell Stewart football player, Marrero

"Laissez les bons temps rouler"
(lay-say lay bawn tawn roulay)
"Let the good times roll,"
(the motto of many Louisianians)

Finally, this profile on Louisiana
would not be complete without at
least a brief mention of Mardi Gras.
Click here for the history of "Carnival".

See you there!

The following websites provided
historical information and graphics....

"The 50 States - Louisiana"
"The History of Louisiana"






Have a nice FRiday
and a relaxing weekend!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-13-03...Military Monday 10-14-03...Relax - You're in Georgia Now 10-15-03...Junk Mail Blues 10-16-03...John's Two Cents

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
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[Temple Owl]

Good Morning Mama_Bear: all. Cajun cooking is indeed marvelous. The oyster po boy I had in New Orleons was the best sandwich I ever had in my entire life. Even better than a Philadelphia hoagie and that is saying something.

[Mama_Bear]

Mornin' Temple Owl.

Cajun cooking is indeed marvelous

I have never been to New Orleans or had any Cajun cooking, but I've thought it would be a wonderful place to visit. It's on my list - I'll get there eventually.

I am not real fond of seafood. "Jambalaya, crawfish pie, and fillet gumbo", doesn't sound at all good to me, but I do love spicy food, so I am sure there would be something on the Cajun menu that I would like.

An oyster po boy? LOL. I think I will go straight for the Philadelphia hoagie....that's my kind of food. ;-)

[Pippin]

Hi, (((Lori)))!

NEXT!

INDIANA!!!!!!

Really, now, God rightup of a very interesting state, but, don't forget the Hurricane Parties, :O)

[Pippin]

THAT SHOULD READ

GOOD Right up

In Post #23

[Pippin]

(((LADYX)))!

((((LOUIE)))))!

(((((DAVE)))))!

GET WELL SOON!!!!!

[Pippin]

Good Morning ((((FREE))))!

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks Pip.

Would you like to help me with Indiana?.....that can be arranged. ;-)

Have a good one.

[ladyinred]

Good morning Mama_Bear!

First of all, this is a terrific topic this morning! My family roots are in Louisiana, and when I was much younger, we visited there with my parents, grandparents, aunts and an uncle traveling together in a station wagon for 2 weeks! Although I was young, I will never forget that!

I know how to prepare some of the terrific ethnic food, grew up eating it, and it is yummy!!! Have lots of family in and around Baton Rouge, and Monroe, and hope to return someday, but not holding my breath!

One last thing, as soon as I finish this post, I am going to send you freepmail that you need to read! Chads and I are leaving this morning for Sacramento, and want you and JK to have this info before we go!

Have a lovely day everyone!

[Pippin]

((((JOHN)))))!

((((MEG)))))!

John, Ted Kennedy is a

BIG FAT DRUNKEN IGNORANT UGLY SLOB!!!!!

There! I got that out of my system! ;O)

[Pippin]

Sure! :O)

[MEG33]

Very astute,Pippin!

[Pippin]

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

I JUST CALLED SEN. TED CHAPAQUIDDICK KENNEDY A

BIG FAT UGLY STUPID IGNORANT DRUNKEN SLOB!!!!!!!!!

[MEG33]

Applause,kudos,bravo!!!!

[Pippin]

Thanks, Meg!

[Pippin]

I try my best to curb my irritation with the likes of FAT TEDDY, BUT!!!!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Friday !

So, then. What can we do today to upset the 'RATS ??? ...

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks, LIR. So nice to have you come by today. Glad you enjoyed our cyber-trip to Lousiana.

One last thing, as soon as I finish this post, I am going to send you freepmail that you need to read! Chads and I are leaving this morning for Sacramento, and want you and JK to have this info before we go!

Well, I am dying of curiosity! Oh, I see your mail just came in. I'll be right back. :-)

[Pippin]

Hi, Meekie!

DEMOCRATS ARE

EVIL UGLY TWERPS!

[Mama_Bear]

Sure! :O)

Great! I will get it lined up.

[Calpernia]

Good morning to the Finest!

Click!