Makes about 8 servings

• 3 to 4 pounds small boiling potatoes
• 3 garlic cloves, minced and mashed with 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (or more, to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon Creole mustard
• 1/3 cup chopped green onions
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until just tender.  Drain and cool.  In a large bowl, combine the garlic paste, lemon juice, mayonnaise and Creole mustard.  Whisk to blend well.  When the potatoes are cool, peel and cut in half.  Add the potatoes and the green onions to the mayonnaise mixture and toss to coat evenly.  Season with salt and black pepper. Sweet potatoes are great to serve with gumbo.  In some parts of south Louisiana, the locals put the sweet potato in their gumbo!  Try it, you might like it. They are also so easy to bake.  Start with a washed potato.  There is no need to oil or butter the skin and do not prick the potato with a fork.  Cook the potatoes whole, not cut in half.  Bake with their skins on at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees and bake for 45 minutes or until tender.  Check for doneness by squeezing the potato—it should be soft to the touch.

RED BEANS, MAMA’S WAY This recipe for red beans makes a lot but do as I do and store whatever is left over in the freezer to pull out when time is short and you yearn for a bowl of steaming-hot red beans and rice. Some people like to serve red beans with a fried pork chop or a link of smoked or fresh pork sausage—your choice! Makes about 20 servings

• 1/4 cup bacon drippings
• 3 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
• 2 cups chopped green bell peppers
• 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1 pound cooked, cubed ham
• 1 pound smoked sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
• 1/2 pound salt pork, chopped
• 2 pounds dried red kidney beans, picked over and rinsed in cool water
• Water or chicken broth
• Salt, cayenne and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 3/4 teaspoon crumbled dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon crumbled dried basil
• 4 bay leaves
• Chopped green onions for garnish
• Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish

Heat the bacon drippings in a large, heavy pot (or Dutch oven), over medium heat. Add the onions, bell peppers and celery and cook, stirring, until they are lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for three minutes. Add the ham, sausage and salt pork. Cook for five minutes. Add the beans and add enough water or chicken broth to cover. Season with salt, cayenne and black pepper. Add the thyme, basil and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, partially covered, for about two hours, stirring occasionally, or until the beans are tender and the mixture is creamy. Add more water or broth if the mixture becomes dry. If you like the beans to be creamier, puree about one-third of the beans in a food processor, in batches, and return to the pot. Cook for another 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Serve hot, garnished with green onions and parsley, over rice. Pass the hot sauce!