Anyone who thinks Mardi Gras is just a chance to party doesn't know enough about the food surrounding this annual festival. The food of New Orleans is the stuff of legend - spicy jambalaya, blackened catfish, savory dirty rice --really, what's not to love? Many of this region's Cajun staples are stews built on rich, dark roux. (Its deep flavor is present in every bite of seafood gumbo and shrimp etouffe.) When you're on the hunt for Mardi Gras recipes, look for traditional preparations that hold true to the Cajun and Creole tradition. This cuisine doesn't need any fancy twists or updates - it's beauty is in its simplicity. Once you've cleared the dinner plates, it's time for king cake. This colorfully decorated cake isn't just a sweet dessert - local custom dictates that the baker add a trinket (often a tiny baby doll) to the batter. The lucky guest who finds the doll in his slice is "king of the feast". Hiding a trinket (it was once typically a bean, now bakers often a place a tiny baby doll) in the batter in this festively decorated cake is a Mardi Gras tradition.
...You can have great spicy gumbo without Mardi Gras, but you can't really have Mardi Gras -- at least... not in Louisiana -- without gumbo. In fact, this traditional stew is such a part of Mardi Gras culture... known as Courir de Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras Run). When they've got everything they need, they cook enough... read more...
...We admit it: this day and age, the idea of "kid-friendly" Mardi Gras seems about as nonsensical... Wild kind of thing. No, when we think of "girls gone wild" and Mardi Gras, we're thinking of a bunch... actually, there's lots of things about Mardi Gras for a kid to love, none of which involve public... read more...
...Like Mardi Gras itself, Bananas Foster is dazzling, fun and a little bit decadent. A dessert made... understand why Bananas Foster is better than a banana split -- kind of like how Mardi Gras is better than any... behavior commonly associated with Mardi Gras. Whatever the reason it was invented, Bananas Foster is so... read more...
cooking - including the Cajun Chicken with Mardi Gras Salsa I made for dinner! Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is this Tuesday in New Orleansfor one of the biggest parties of the year - Mardi Gras. Until then I thought I'd pay homage to the read more...
Tomorrow is Mardi Gras. To celebrate, I made these King Cakeand have been patiently waiting for Mardi Gras to roll around to make them. Dixie CrystalsThey are amazing. I love celebrating Mardi Gras, usually I make a king cake with my read more...
bring a batch. Favorite party: MARDI GRAS ! I wrote a freelance article this week about mardi gras foods, which got me missing my favoritethis weekend and into next week for Mardi Gras but, no dice. Favorite funny read more...