Justin Wilson Looking Back

A PBS television chef, humorist and Louisiana native shares stories and recipes from his career as one of the earliest emissaries of Cajun cooking. Justin Wilson made his mark as a storyteller and humorist—a goodwill ambassador of the Cajun culture of South Louisiana. He took a culture slur and made it a label of distinction, proudly identifying himself, and his cooking, as “Cajun.” For this, his final retrospective, Wilson reminisces about times gone by, the recipes he created, and the evolution of his cooking style. He features delicious original recipes, including some healthy and convenient options, and his famously funny anecdotes. Complementing such tasty tidbits are photos that capture the essence of this loveable Cajun icon. This classic cookbook is sure to help you “pass a good time.” I GARONTEE!

The first cookbook featuring classic Cajun recipes—from Red Beans and Rice to Catfish Courtbouillon—from the comedian and PBS cooking series host. Justin Wilson took a culture slur and made it a label of distinction. He proudly identified himself, and his cooking, as “Cajun.” His experiences as a safety engineer were the catalyst of his transformation into one of the most familiar Cajun personalities of the last century. “I started interspersing my safety talks with Cajun humor. And what do you know? My audiences stayed awake!” They did a lot more than stay awake. They chuckled, they laughed, they roared—and they learned their safety lessons! For decades, Wilson was in heavy demand on television and in person. He recorded four albums, one of which—The Humorous World of Justin Wilson—broke all album sales records in Texas at the time. His first cookbook, published in 1965, still stands as a masterpiece of Cajun cooking and of culinary expertise in general. Unique, entertaining, and authentic, his original Cajun recipes include everything from the perfect roux to Eggplant Appetizer a la Justin, Red Bean Soup, Okra Gumbo, Venison Roast, and Dirty Rice. Wilson’s collection of Cajun recipes (and humor) will set your imagination on the right track, “I garontee.”

The internationally known Cajun chef and humorist serves up easy-to-cook and easy-to-eat recipes for parties, picnics, or everyday occasions. “Dis is so easy to cook and it tastes so good, you are going to think somebody lied to you about how good it is, I garontee.” —Justin Wilson People in Louisiana love to cook and they love to socialize. That’s why these easy down-home recipes are just the thing for the neighborly chef. Justin Wilson, who was always looking for ways to make his cooking easier, eliminates peeling and chopping by using flavored salts and powders instead of onions, celery, and garlic. From breakfast to dinner and appetizers to desserts, Wilson packs every course with a cornucopia of flavor. Pecan Cornbread is made with pecan meal, and fish is fileted twice to speed up the process, allowing the host to get out of the kitchen and mingle with guests. Adding just the right amount of spice to every dish, Wilson makes good use of local ingredients, like Creole mustard, Louisiana hot sauce, and cayenne pepper. Sayings and anecdotes are of course included, because just like his food, Wilson is a representative of Cajun culture.

The world’s greatest spinner of Cajun tales and a leading authority on Cajun dialects combine their talents in this rollicking anthology of Cajun humor. For more than forty-five years the delight of audiences around the country, the exceptionally neighborly and friendly Justin Wilson is without peer in his mastery of the distinctive Cajun patois and the storied Cajun joie de vivre. Nattily decked out in string ties, flop-brimmed Panama hat, and flaming red suspenders, and punctuating his stories with a booming “I ga-ron-tee!” Wilson projects authentic Cajun Humor instantly recognized by anyone who has visited the Louisiana bayou country. Wilson, whose tales have been recorded on numerous bestselling albums, is also the author of More Cajun Humor, and Justin Wilson’s Cajun Fables, as well as many cookbooks, including The Justin Wilson Cookbook, The Justin Wilson Cookbook #2: Cookin’ Cajun, The Justin Wilson Gourmet andGourmand Cookbook, Justin Wilson’s Outdoor Cooking with Inside Help, all published by Pelican. Howard Jacobs, a widely read columnist with The New Orleans Times-Picayune, is the coauthor of Justin Wilson’s Cajun Humor, and author of Cajun Laugh-in.

The flavors of Louisiana come alive in this collection of down home country recipes for everything from appetizers to dessert with even some extras for beverages and preserves.

Combine classic Mother Goose with a South Louisiana Acadian setting and the artistry of renowned Cajun humorist Justin Wilson, and the result is a captivating book that will delight children and adults of all ages. For this book, American's formost interpreter of things Cajun has chosen five familiar stories and 19 favorite nursery rhymes. By applying his inimitable bayou-country style, Wilson has produces what will undoubtedly become a modern classic. "Goldilocks and the Three Crawfish," "The Three Little Couchons," Petite Rouge Riding Hood," "Three Blind Possums", and "Jacques and Jill" are just a few of the recognizable tales and rhymes that receive the Wilson touch in these pages. Jay Hadley (Coauthor) of Baton Rouge and Errol Troxclair (illustrator) of White Castle, in Louisiana's Cajun country, collaborated with Wilson on this book. Affectionately known as "Joos-tain" by his Cajun friends, Wilson is one of American's busiest after-dinner speakers. For more than three decades he has entertained audiences across the country with his humorous but admiring look at the Cajun people and their culture. A well-known gourmet cook and host of a syndicated cooking show on educational television ("Justin Wilson's Louisiana Cookin"), the multitalented Wilson has written four cookbooks-- The Justin Wilson Cook Book, The Justin Wilson #2 Cookbook: Cookin' Cajun , The Justin Wilson Gourmet and Gourmand Cookbook, Justin Wilson's Outdoor Cooking With Inside Help, all which have sold multiple printings. He is also coauthor, with Howard Jacobs, of Justin Wilson's Cajun Humor.

Country cooking at its best! Everyone's favorite Cajun, Justin Wilson, has cooked up a collection of mouth-watering temptations in Justin Wilson's Outdoor Cooking With Inside Help . Many of the recipes featured can be seen demonstrated on Justin's PBS show, Justin Wilson's Louisiana Cookin' Outdoors. With the aid of a barbecue grill and a "Cajun microwave" (a large cypress oven), you'll be cooking like a Cajun and impressing friends and family with your skills. Fifty color photographs show Justin's delicious dishes in various stages of preparation. Justin Wilson is internationally known as a Cajun cook and humorist. He is a veteran of both writing cookbooks and preparing his dishes on his public broadcasting television programs for people across the country to enjoy. The companion television series to is currently under production for the Public Broadcasting System. His other books include Justin Wilson Looking Back: A Cajun Cookbook, The Justin Wilson Gourmet and Gourmand Cookbook, Justin Wilson's Outdoor Cooking with Inside Help, The Justin Wilson Cook Book (sp), The Justin Wilson #2 Cookbook: Cookin' Cajun (sp), Justin Wilson's Cajun Humor (pb), More Cajun Humor (pb), and Justin Wilson's Cajun Fables, all published by Pelican.