Except for 1985, when the Chicago Bears won Superbowl XX, and in 2006 when they lost Superbowl XLI to the Indianapolis Colts, I’ve never much cared who was playing. For me, the Superbowl is usually just an excuse for a party.

Not this year. On Sunday, I’ll be on the edge of my seat, rooting for the New Orleans Saints. Partly that’s because the city of New Orleans, as well as the rest of Louisiana, is still struggling to recover from Hurricane Katrina. It’s caused problems even in places that weren’t damaged by the storm, as thousands moved into outlying areas, with resulting unemployment, overcrowded schools, inadequate infrastructure, etc. And wherever Katrina did hit, the devastation is sadly still too easy to see. These folks need something to celebrate.

The other reason is that my husband, Peter, and I find ourselves returning to southern Louisiana again and again. Not just New Orleans, but also to Acadiana – Cajun country. We’re drawn there, as I’ve said before, because of the food, the music and the people who make them.

So if you’ll be cheering for the Saints on Sunday – or even if you’re not – here are some recipes to help bring some Big Easy spirit to your celebration. And if you’d like to try your hand at an authentic New Orleans-style gumbo, check out my recipe in my 11/5/08 column at IT’s Web site.

Laissez les bonne temps roulez!