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CREOLE CAJUN CHEF
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LuxLife Magazine Best Creole & Cajun Recipe Creator 2025
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Cooking a meal for dad
Today is a very important day for me. It’s my Dad’s birthday. I only had 11 years with him as he died way too soon. He was a loving,...

Tommy Centola
Sep 25, 20223 min read


Making eatable gifts for Christmas
I know that everyone is in full swing with their Christmas present shopping. With the prices of everything going up, why not head to the...

Tommy Centola
Sep 18, 20223 min read


Three kitchen favorites to try
I am an avid collector of cookbooks. I was very excited when I saw that Kolette Mandina Ditta was publishing a cookbook with the recipes...

Tommy Centola
Sep 11, 20223 min read


Making turkey star of table
Thanksgiving is almost here. The star of most tables is the turkey. Of course in Cajun country, they have developed a unique way of...

Tommy Centola
Sep 4, 20223 min read


Three artichoke appetizers sure to entertain
Like an oyster, I wonder who was the first person to look at an artichoke and think that it would have something worth eating inside. The...

Tommy Centola
Aug 28, 20223 min read


Adding a twist with coconut
When you think of coconut, do you automatically think of desserts? Many people do, which is natural. Adding coconut to any dish will add...

Tommy Centola
Aug 21, 20223 min read


The fastest of final courses
With Halloween being tomorrow, it’s no wonder my mind has turned to many people’s favorite course of a meal, dessert. To me, a meal is...

Tommy Centola
Aug 14, 20223 min read


Casseroles easy to make, clean up
Many people love to cook but don’t like the cleanup afterwards. Some recipes require multiple pots and bowls to create. Jambalaya is a...

Tommy Centola
Aug 7, 20223 min read


Celebrating special occasions with food
October is a special month for me. The 20th is the day of my wedding anniversary. To celebrate, my wife and I are usually on a cruise....

Tommy Centola
Jul 31, 20223 min read


Comfort food that incorporates different types of sausage
Walk through the meat department of any grocery store and you will find numerous brands of sausage. From Smoked and Kielbasa to Brats and...

Tommy Centola
Jul 24, 20223 min read


Incorporate local honey in the kitchen
There are numerous sweeteners on grocery market stores these days. My favorite is Steen’s Cane Syrup. Part of the reason is that it’s a...

Tommy Centola
Jul 17, 20223 min read


Game day snacks for the win
Football season is here! Whether you are tailgating or just watching on television, you never want to be without your Game Day Snacks. I...

Tommy Centola
Jul 10, 20223 min read


Putting a twist on tomatoes
My regular readers know of my love for the Main Street Searcy Farmer’s Market. Every Saturday morning, the freshest produce to be found...

Tommy Centola
Jul 3, 20223 min read


Try easy, budget friendly meals
With school underway, parents are looking for quick and easy dishes to cook. Not only quick and easy, but also budget friendly. These...

Tommy Centola
Jun 26, 20223 min read


Celebrating with some favorite recipes
Time flies when you’re having fun. Today marks another milestone. This is my 200th article with the Daily Citizen. Never in my wildest...

Tommy Centola
Jun 19, 20223 min read


Try non-chocolate sauce
Most everyone has a sweet tooth. Rarely in restaurants these days will you find a dessert served without a sauce on top or on the plate....

Tommy Centola
Jun 12, 20223 min read


Getting inspiration from the Farmer's market
I get plenty of inspiration for recipes walking around our Farmer’s Market. A couple of weeks ago, fresh peaches made their first...

Tommy Centola
Jun 5, 20223 min read


Try signature dish in kitchen
Whether you know it or not, every cook has a recipe that is their signature dish. It’s your go to dish that you cook often. It can be...

Tommy Centola
May 29, 20223 min read


Try some Creole-Italian in kitchen
Creole and Cajun restaurants dominate the New Orleans dining out options. A hybrid of Creole cooking is the addition of Italian cuisine...

Tommy Centola
May 22, 20223 min read


Getting out the deep fryer
With the popularity of air fryers these days, many people are using them to cook with less oil. I bought and used an air fryer twice. I...

Tommy Centola
May 15, 20223 min read
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