Lagniappe: A Little Something Extra

My dad is from Southern Louisiana and I spent quite a bit of time there myself.  In Cajun culture, there's something called Lagniappe (LAN-yop) which roughly translates to "A little something extra" and  usually refers to a small perk or gift given to a customer by a merchant (like a baker's dozen).  Sometimes it's used to entice someone into staying ("Have another drink." "No, I've had enough."  "Come on, this is for Lagniappe.") 

I've always loved this part of my family's culture, it's an understanding of gratitude and goodwill, a sense of wanting to share something else with your customer or just your fellow man.  It can be used flirtatiously, as part of driving a hard bargain, or even as a way to entice that favorite niece or nephew to visit a few more minutes.  Wanting to give something extra isn't always part of American culture, we want to give less, to maximize profit, to hold onto our valuables.  Why not give a little more and increase your sense of well-being once in a while instead of your profit margin?

So as I share my family's recipes, I'll toss in some Lagniappe recipes - a little something extra to share from my family to yours.  The best part about these?  They'll use up the odds and ends from other recipes.  So less waste, more taste, and full bellies all around.