I don’t make it a habit of endorsing businesses in this space. After all, advertising is how I am paid, how we pay our employees and our mortgage and the like.

However, sometimes a business comes along that is so special, it deserves attention.

Bayou Market Place and Casseroles to Go is that kind of business.

Opened recently by the owners of the Gumbo Pot — Perry and Donna Boyd — this new market, located on Halls Ferry next to Divine Donuts, has been life changing for me.

First, no one loves a good casserole more than I do. But, making them takes time and a lot of clean up, so I don’t make them often. And, I don’t do well at planning my meals, so I don’t often think about what’s for supper until I get in the car to drive home from work.

It was just such a night last week that made me drive into the parking lot at Bayou Market.

I’m going to admit, I hadn’t been in to the new business yet because I thought it was only about seafood and Cajun food and goods. Oh, how wrong I was!

I love Cajun and Creole cooking. I grew up in south Mississippi and went to college in Lafayette, La., the heart of Cajun country. But I don’t want it all the time.

Much to my surprise and delight, this place is so much more. Rotel chicken casserole, poppy seed chicken casserole, shepherd’s pie — it has these and much more. Including soups, like “Big Mama’s vegetable soup.”

Yes, and it has many Cajun specialties, include red beans and sausage, shrimp and grits, jambalaya. And fresh Gulf shrimp, crawfish and oysters by the pint, all kinds of spices and sauces and jams and jellies.

And did I mention desserts? They have King Cakes from Gambino’s and cupcakes and miniature pies. I could go on.

Or the sandwiches, like muffalatas and several others. And salads? Or the loaves of French bread? You should just smell the olive mixture they put on the muffalatas.

And if you call ahead, they will put your casserole in the oven and have it hot and ready to serve when you come in and pick it up.

Bayou Market Place and Casseroles to Go are a game changer here. It certainly has been for me.

They offer their casseroles in generous single serving sizes, a medium size that looks to me to have about four decent-size servings or a large size that will feed a bunch of folks.

I’ve been able to grab a casserole, go home, stick it in the oven, take care of chores while it’s cooking, then sit down and relax and eat supper.

No spending time making the casserole, no cleaning up, just enjoying some really, really good food. For someone like me who is single and gets sick of eating the same thing night after night until a full casserole is gone, Bayou Market and Casseroles to Go has saved me time and money.

I’m a decent cook, but these casseroles — I’ve had the Rotel chicken, poppy seed and shepherd’s pie so far — are delicious. And I didn’t have to grocery shop or make them or clean up!

I urge you to go by and check this place out. Bayou Market Place, 3428 Halls Ferry Road, 601-738-5411.

I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Jan Griffey is general manager of The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at jan.griffey@vicksburgpost.com.