Send a text

Craving the kind of Cajun cooking that turns neighbors into taste testers and a weekday into a backyard party? We welcome our friend Hal back to the table for a flavorful tour of her fast-growing seasoning brand, a sourdough king cake reveal, and a deep dive into the craft behind great boils, blackening, and crowd-pleasing dips.

We dig into the new lineup—spicy ranch, Cajun onion, Chipotle, and spinach dips—plus a marinade and garlic sauce on the way. Hal opens up about refining recipes with real-world testers, working with a co-packer, and why a versatile pantry matters for busy home cooks. She shares a surprising low-sodium hack: her blackening blend doubles as an all-purpose seasoning when you want bold flavor without the salt bomb. We swap beer salt tricks for better hydration, fruit pairings that slap, and why a touch of citrus can rescue both bottled water and grilled fish.

Then it’s crawfish season 101. Hal explains a smarter boil: seasoning the water, letting the heat in the ice chest meld spices, and what she calls true dusting on the platter. We talk shell-softening strategies with vinegar or lemon, when butter belongs, and the little timing choices that make tails peel like a dream. Shrimp and blue crabs get their shine too, including gravy that makes the table go quiet. Along the way, we trade rapid-fire takes—rice over potatoes, cast iron love with realistic cleaning habits, store-bought roux when time and shoulders say so—and we celebrate outdoor cooking for the smell control, the breeze, and the spontaneous company.

Beneath the jokes is a working playbook for creative lives: iterate without ego, set boundaries without guilt, and honor the culture that raised you. If you’re here for Cajun seasoning ideas, crawfish boil tips, blackened salmon wins, and real talk about running a food brand while keeping your joy, you’ll feel right at home. Hit follow, share this with your favorite backyard cook, and leave a review with your best boil tip—what’s your secret for the perfect peel?

https://cajunmamas.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@CajunMamas

Sara
https://www.facebook.com/lllippylady
https://www.instagram.com/lllippylady/#
https://www.tiktok.com/@lllippylady

Koa
https://www.facebook.com/kgmelancon
https://www.tiktok.com/@koa.melancon
https://www.instagram.com/k_melancon/

Send a text

Ever wondered why a captain on horseback waves a flag before a masked crowd sprints across a pasture after a chicken? We pull back the mask on Cajun country’s Courir de Mardi Gras, a living tradition with medieval French roots that still thrives in towns like Church Point, Eunice, and Mamou. This isn’t the spectacle of big-city floats. It’s door-to-door permission, fiddle-fueled dancing, and a community remembering how to feast together before Lent.

We share what makes the run so different: scrap-built costumes with streaming fringe, wire masks that level status, and a playful send-up of royal hats. The captain’s role anchors the day—no entry without the ask, no revelry without the flag. Then comes the lore in motion: begging for rice or meat, retold as a chase for the chicken that once went straight into the gumbo pot. Along the way, each town adds its own cadence, with distinct chants and calls that keep local identity strong within a shared ritual.

You’ll also hear why the children’s run steals the show. Color-coded flags, no alcohol, careful staging, and wide-eyed kids in tiny costumes keep the culture alive with joy and care. As the main parade grows, safety rules evolve—simpler floats, clearer routes—so elders on bus rows and visitors from Canada or Ireland can catch beads and stories in equal measure. Planning a trip? Bring boots, start early, and pace yourself. Whether you stand at the fence line or fall into a line dance, you’ll leave with music in your head and a better sense of what community can be when everyone is equal behind a mask.

Love cultural deep dives and small-town traditions with big heart? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend who needs a road trip idea, and leave a quick review so more folks can find us.

https://cajunmamas.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@CajunMamas

Sara
https://www.facebook.com/lllippylady
https://www.instagram.com/lllippylady/#
https://www.tiktok.com/@lllippylady

Koa
https://www.facebook.com/kgmelancon
https://www.tiktok.com/@koa.melancon
https://www.instagram.com/k_melancon/

Send us a text

A costume can hold a whole culture. We sit down with Karen from Vacajun to trace how a childhood hobby became a powerhouse Mardi Gras shop that outfits everyone from newborns to 5XL with bold fringe, custom prints, and zero‑waste creativity. Karen opens up about learning to sew at her mother’s side, winning 4‑H competitions, and then tackling high-stakes ball gowns for major krewes before shifting into Courir de Mardi Gras suits that locals demanded and the country now loves.

You’ll hear how Vacajun runs on planning and play: smart inventory formulas, categories like chicken, crawfish, camo, and classic purple-green-gold, and a cutting process that turns every scrap into something new—mask noses, capuchons, stuffed chickens, and the fan-favorite “cutting room floor” suits. Karen also shares the origin of “Fringe With Benefits,” a clever clip-on side fringe that transforms jeans or leggings without committing to full pants, plus how her cross-trained team flips between sewing, embroidery, and T-shirts to keep orders moving during peak season.

The secret sauce is custom fabric printing. After auditioning for Shark Tank, Karen bought a printer anyway and now her team designs exclusive textiles—from watercolor Acadian flags to raccoons on tie-dye—so krewes and families can wear their identity. We swap stories about a DIY shop runway show, nationwide shipping to surprising places, and why authentic Cajun style thrives when tradition meets invention. If you’re searching for Courir de Mardi Gras costumes, Cajun fringe pants, or custom Mardi Gras outfits, you’ll find practical tips, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at how culture gets made by hand.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Mardi Gras, and tell us: are you team full fringe or Fringe With Benefits?

https://cajunmamas.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@CajunMamas

Sara
https://www.facebook.com/lllippylady
https://www.instagram.com/lllippylady/#
https://www.tiktok.com/@lllippylady

Koa
https://www.facebook.com/kgmelancon
https://www.tiktok.com/@koa.melancon
https://www.instagram.com/k_melancon/