Mardi Gras!

[Guest guest]

Mardi Gras!

 

 

*** Mardi Gras!

They take their food seriously in New Orleans and you will too, once you close

your lips around some of the Crescent City's specialties. So even if you won't

be making it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras next week, you can bring that

succulent and seductive city to you, by way of your very own

kitchen!

 

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*** A Taste of New Orleans

Let the good times roll on Fat Tuesday by having a Cajun and Creole dinner party

or an all-out Mardi Gras extravaganza. Catch some mouthwatering hints for

bringing New Orleans to your corner of the world.

 

* Gumbo. Gumbo is one of the most famous dishes to result from Louisiana's

shared Creole/Cajun heritage. A rich, flavorful pot o' gumbo usually starts off

with roux, a cooked mixture of fat and flour, and the " holy trinity " of celery,

onion, and green peppers.

 

After that, it's time for some improvising! Choose from green onions, garlic,

cayenne pepper, black pepper, dry mustard, paprika, sage, cumin, bay leaves,

thyme, parsley, and tomatoes. The featured ingredients in a pot of gumbo can

include delights and delicacies from land, sea and air.

 

If you're having a gumbo party, you can take away the last-minute stress by

making it in advance and reheating it -- it actually tastes better the next day!

 

* Po-Boys and Muffulettas. Two of the world's greatest sandwiches, the po-boy

and the muffuletta, were born and bre(a)d in New Orleans. The po-boy is New

Orleans' answer to the submarine sandwich. They start with

freshly baked French bread and then pile on your anything of your choice. Dress

that po-boy up with mayonnaise, shredded lettuce, onions, pickles and tomatoes.

 

A muffuletta is bigger than your head, and

overflowing with spicy fillings of your choice, creamy mozzarella and provolone

cheeses--all encased by a painstakingly spiced and marinated olive spread and

bakery-fresh, sesame seed-studded Italian bread.

 

A full-size muffuletta can feed four polite people or one

really enthusiastic and voracious Mardi Gras reveler!

 

* Bananas Foster. Ever heard the phrase, " the whole is greater than the sum of

its parts? " As soon as you taste your first spoonful of Bananas Foster, you'll

understand that phrase like never before.

 

How could something as simple as bananas, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and rum

add up to something so beguiling? Once everything is sautéed together, you add a

little bit of magic by lighting the whole thing on fire!

 

If possible, give your guests a thrill by preparing this in front of them,

complete with flaming fanfare (but be sure to have a heavy lid handy, to clap

over the pan in case the flames get out of control)! Serve the sweet concoction

over a mountain of vanilla ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My Special Thought To You:

Success Is Getting What You Want--Happiness Is Liking What You Get!