Robert Medina’s “If You Can’t Stand the Heat” ~ Cookbook & Seasoning [Giveaway, Ended 12/19]

An adventure and a tasty delight, retired firefighter Robert Medina brings classic New Orleans fare as well as many original firefighter recipes right to your anywhere kitchen with the cookbook “If You Can’t Stand the Heat”.

I walked away from this review with a number of things I now value.  My first roux making experience.  A recipe for my new favorite spice combination (Flashover Seasoning – more on that below).  A new, interesting, and fun Disney-loving friend acquired.  Oh, and how could I forget… finally knowing how to make some amazing fish tacos at home!

I met cookbook author Robert Medina on Twitter.  There he was, just tweeting away about Disney (kinda like me).  His profile intrigued me:  He is a retired New Orleans firefighter, now living close to the Magic in Florida.  I just had to check out his recipes in If You Can’t Stand the Heat for myself.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat ~ Firehouse Origins

If you’ve ever known any firefighters, you know they have long shifts where they live at the station.  A camaraderie develops for many reasons – one of which most certainly has to be the big portion cooking going on in the kitchen.

The New Orleans firefighters in Robert’s station seriously lucked out.  His culinary skills blossomed in this arena (and there after, cooking for friends), and he’s now shared some of his best in the cookbook If You Can’t Stand the Heat.  Oh, I can STAND this kind of delicious heat…

Shrimp Fettuccine Diablo ~ rich, creamy, & decadent … with just a little kick

If You Can’t Stand the Heat ~ Firehouse Flashover Creole Seasoning

If you’ve done any Cajun cooking, it usually revolves around some concoction of spices you mix together and use liberally.  Robert’s version is called Firehouse Flashover Creole Seasoning, and is used in many of his recipes.

I had a good feeling about this Flashover Seasoning, and was very excited to get my hands on the recipe for it (it is included in the If You Can’t Stand the Heat cookbook).  Unlike other Cajun mixes I’ve tried … it also has a little green in it – thyme, basil, and oregano (the French New Orleans influence, perhaps?) and it does not disappoint.

December 2012 UPDATE:  Exciting news!  Since the original date of this review post, you now no longer need to mix up Flashover Seasoning yourself:  New Orleans Original Firehouse Flashover Creole Seasoning is currently available for purchase here, for only $5.95 per bottle (plus S & H).

Check it out.  I tried the recipe for cilantro dressing, needed to complete the coleslaw mixture that tops the fish tacos.  Oh my.  Words cannot express how delicious this meal was! 

 

I was so impressed with myself that I made this.  Ok, Robert told me how.  He can tell you, too, if you’d like.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat ~ Recipes

I love that there is an entire section on Sauces,  Stocks, and Seasonings.  Make no mistake, this was written by a true food lover, and the flavor explosions abound!

It’s not just Cajun and Creole inspired cooking though, there is a nice variety included.  Robert features some Chinese recipes, pasta recipes, stuffed artichokes, lots of creative ideas for fish and shrimp, the list goes on and on … Mmmmm.

He lost me at the recipe calling for “2 whole rabbits, cut up” – it seems some of his buddies at the station were hunters.  But hey … you never cook every single recipe in a cook book, right?

If You Can’t Stand the Heat Cookbook sections include:

• Sauces, Stocks, & Seasonings
• Soups, Salads, & Sandwiches
• Appetizers, Sides, & Snacks
• Entrees
• Desserts

Mandarin Chicken – only found in Louisiana.  And Robert’s cookbook!

Robert has a great writing style – helpful, witty, informative without being too wordy.  Some of the creations were a little challenging for me, I’ll admit.  But he walks you through it in such a down to earth manner, that anyone can pull it off.  Overall, it’s just a really fun experience.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat ~ Where to Purchase

You can save $5 when  you purchase the If You Can’t Stand the Heat cookbook directly from Robert – available for $24.95 (plus S & H) vs $29.99 in bookstores.  I highly recommend it, as it’s unique from any cookbook I’ve ever seen.  It’s certainly spiced up my kitchen!  What a great present for that culinary-loving friend,  yourself, or that someone who cooks for you.

And get this:  there’s a place on the online order form to enter “Autographed Copy to Read” – so the author can customize and personally sign your cookbook for free!  Love that.

Need one last great reason to try this cookbook?  10% of the proceeds from all sales is donated (exclusively from Robert’s portion, I might add) to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.   Because that’s the kind of guy Robert is.

Check out his cookbook, you’ll thoroughly enjoy it.  And watch his Facebook page for mouthwatering food pictures.  And as a final teaser, I can tell you that he’s working on book #2 and I’ve been told it will include photos…

The Giveaway

(NOTE:  This review was originally posted in February 2012, but in honor of Robert’s new New Orleans Original Firehouse Flashover Creole Seasoning  being available for purchase, we are now hosting another giveaway.)

Robert has generously offered to personally sign a copy of his “If You Can’t Stand the Heat” cookbook, and mail it to one of my winning readers!  Enter using the form below.

Open to US residents.

*o*     *o*     *o*

I received a complimentary copy of “If You Can’t Stand the Heat”.  All opinions are my own.
a Rafflecopter giveaway