The Perfect Jewelry To Wear To A Crawfish Boil

From Madeline: You can smell the spices in the air and feel the heat from the boiling pot. Someone lifts the paddle with a red-hot crawfish and says, “try it." You pinch and pull the tail, pop it in your mouth, and unleash a full sensory explosion.

Crawfish boils are more than a meal or tradition; they are a way of life. They mark engagements, weddings, and new life at baby showers. We even send-off loved ones with them at funerals. We had an epic one for my grandmother.

If there isn’t an occasion for one, it becomes the occasion that brings us together. It's an all-day affair, so we come early for the first batch and stay late for the last one. Bonus points if you peel the leftovers to make crawfish pie the next day. ;)

We're all about celebrating and enjoying crawfish in its many forms, whether that's crawfish boil jewelry, crawfish recipes, or crawfish art.

Crawfish have become such a staple in Southern culture. However, we weren't gathering around for crawfish boils from the very start.

According to 64 Parishes.org's article, "Crawfish Boils," crawfish were once wrapped up in social stigma here in Louisiana and "considered to be food for the poor." That began to change with the introduction of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival which "helped rehabilitate local perceptions of the shellfish and its consumption," explains 64 Parishes.

During crawfish season, we are so used to having a freshly boiled batch nearly right at our fingertips whenever we want them, but it wasn't until the late 1800s that crawfish were sold commercially. And, almost to no surprise, Louisiana produces the most crawfish in the United States.

Shop the Cajun Holy Trinity

Shop the Crawfish Pendant

Shop the Crawfish Earrings

Shop the Crawfish Tie/Lapel Pin

Shop the Crawfish Cufflinks 

Cooking with crawfish

What foods to boil with crawfish

Sides play an important role at a crawfish boil. When it comes to sides, try adding these to your boil:

• corn on the cob

• red potatoes (turns out sweet potatoes are also pretty good)

• onion

• mushrooms

• sausage

• garlic

• veggies

• any other seafood you might like

Okay, we're officially hungry now.

Crawfish-inspired recipes

After spending all day boiling your crawfish to perfection, don't let those leftovers go to waste! Peel them and put a crawfish étouffée or pasta on the menu. And then maybe invite us over for dinner. ;)

Here is Madeline's mom's Crawfish Pie recipe to get you started!

Crawfish Pie

• 1/2 cup roux — can use store-bought or make by using 1 stick margarine or butter and 1/2 cup plain flour. Melt margarine in heavy pot, stirring in flour. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture darkens to caramel color. Add chopped vegetables and garlic.

• 1-2 large onions

• 1 bell pepper

• 2-3 stalks celery

• 2 cloves garlic

• In place of the above vegetables, I buy the Picksweet already chopped seasoning blend of peppers, onions, and celery, then add garlic. This saves a little time.
• Cook until onions are clear.
• Add 1 can of cream of chicken and mushroom (sometimes I use plain cream of chicken) condensed soup and 1 small can of evaporated milk (I think it is a 6oz. can)
• Heat, stirring till mixture is smooth.
• Add 1 lb crawfish tails (you can use more crawfish if you like) or cooked cubed chicken, leftover Thanksgiving turkey works well also.
• Season to taste — I use Tony Chachere's or Daddy's Seasoning, Tabasco, and salt & pepper.
• When mixture is thoroughly heated, pour into piecrust and cover with second crust. Seal edges of crust well and cut vent slots into top crust. Place in oven heated to 350-375 and cook until golden brown.

We've also rounded up just a few of our local favorites, where you'll find even more crawfish-inspired recipes.

• "The Junior League" Cookbooks

• "Mosquito Supper Club: Cajun Recipes from a Disappearing Bayou" Cookbook

• Red Stick Spice Company's Recipe Blog — they also offer a Crawfish Boil Seasoning Blend and Spicy Dipping Sauce

 

Where to buy a real crawfish paddle (and not just the crawfish boil jewelry paddle)

You can't have a proper crawfish boil without a boiling paddle! The Red Stick Spoon Company from Louisiana makes boiling paddles.

Celebrating crawfish in Louisiana

Crawfish-inspired art

They say art imitates life — there is no shortage of crawfish-inspired art here in the South! And these are some of our favorites.

• Hannah Gumbo's "Crawfish Print"

• Home Malone's "I Hope You Brought Crawfish" Door Hanger

• Thistlebee's "Crawfish Stickers"

• IDJV's "Crawfish & Beer" Earrings and "Corn & Crawfish" Earrings

• Tim's Garage's "Eat Local Crawfish T"

• Bonfolk's "Crawfish Socks" 

All photos are courtesy of the artists.

Louisiana crawfish festivals

If you're hoping for some crawfish without an at-home boil, find a festival near you — food AND fun.

These are just a few of the countless crawfish festivals across the South. With a quick search online, you're bound to find all sorts of crawfish festival fun close to you!

• Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival

• Crawfete 

• Louisiana Crawfish Festival

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Shop the MIMOSA Handcrafted Crawfish Collection.

• Shop the Crawfish Paddle Cuff
• Shop the Crawfish Pendant
• Shop the Crawfish Earrings
• Shop the Crawfish Cufflinks
• Shop the Crawfish Tie/Lapel Pin

Contact us for a 14K gold price quote.

 

References: 

• https://64parishes.org/entry/crawfish-boils
  
  
  

Published 1/31/23; Last Updated 1/31/23