Mardi Gras Tips and Recipes!
It's Mardi Gras time again and that means party time in New
Orleans. Since Hurricane Katrina hit we really take the time to
enjoy our traditions because you never know when something is
going to happen that will change everything. Food is a very
important part of Mardi Gras and New Orleans in general, but
during Mardi Gras time the food is extra delicious.
We usually have get togethers and small parties during Mardi Gras
in New Orleans so the food is generally not that heavy and works
well during gatherings. Most of it is served buffet style although
the mother of the house won't be happy until she "fixes you a
plate". A good menu would be as follows:
-Barbecued Chicken
-New Orleans Style Red Beans and Rice
-Potato Salad
-Jambalaya or Dirty Rice
-Louisiana Gumbo
For dessert we would probably have King Cake, bread pudding or
even cheesecake. These gatherings are informal and although the
food is a very important part, the main attraction is having fun. As
much fun as possible in between parades.
Of course the Mardi Gras colors are Green, Gold and Purple, so
decorations are usually in these colors. We usually don't decorate
with a lot of beads hanging around like you might have seen on
television. Beads are considered too sacred at this time of the
year to leave them hanging around. lol...Although in moderation,
Mardi Gras beads can add a nice touch.
There is really no formula to our Mardi Gras traditions other than
the recipes. Once again it's all about having fun, and New
Orleanians definitely know how to do that.
It's Mardi Gras time again and that means party time in New
Orleans. Since Hurricane Katrina hit we really take the time to
enjoy our traditions because you never know when something is
going to happen that will change everything. Food is a very
important part of Mardi Gras and New Orleans in general, but
during Mardi Gras time the food is extra delicious.
We usually have get togethers and small parties during Mardi Gras
in New Orleans so the food is generally not that heavy and works
well during gatherings. Most of it is served buffet style although
the mother of the house won't be happy until she "fixes you a
plate". A good menu would be as follows:
-Barbecued Chicken
-New Orleans Style Red Beans and Rice
-Potato Salad
-Jambalaya or Dirty Rice
-Louisiana Gumbo
For dessert we would probably have King Cake, bread pudding or
even cheesecake. These gatherings are informal and although the
food is a very important part, the main attraction is having fun. As
much fun as possible in between parades.
Of course the Mardi Gras colors are Green, Gold and Purple, so
decorations are usually in these colors. We usually don't decorate
with a lot of beads hanging around like you might have seen on
television. Beads are considered too sacred at this time of the
year to leave them hanging around. lol...Although in moderation,
Mardi Gras beads can add a nice touch.
There is really no formula to our Mardi Gras traditions other than
the recipes. Once again it's all about having fun, and New
Orleanians definitely know how to do that.
How to make a Valentines Day gift for the one you love!
Valentine's Day is the day that we share the joys and marvels of one
of life's greatest pleasures, love. It is the time in which the goal is
to totally spoil your loved one and celebrate the beauty of your
relationship. Many people want expensive gifts and trinkets for
Valentine's Day, but even if you are someone that can afford to give
lavish trips and luxury cars, it is worth to stop and think about
giving a homemade candy gift that guarantees the pleasure of your
significant other in a way that an expensive piece of jewelery can
never do.
Candy is sensual, sweet and seductive which makes it the perfect
gift for Valentine's Day. An even more meaningful thing to do would
be to make the candy yourself. This would show the love of your
life that you truly took the time out to give them something special
this year. The perfect candy for this love gift is a delicious box of
New Orleans style praline candy.
Affectionately known as "pecan candy" in New Orleans, pralines are
a decadent blend of sugar, cream, butter and pecans that will
excite every taste bud of your lover's mouth. Put them in a gift box
along with some other presents of love and your partner will be so
thankful that you will want to make them all the time. They are
simple to make and it is with pleasure that I share this age old
sinfully delicious recipe from the South. More FREE creole recipes
and cooking tips can be found at The Recipe Hunter .
This recipe makes approximately 12 pralines.
"Authentic New Orleans Pralines"
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated white sugar
1 cup of light brown sugar
18 ounces of evaporated milk(about 1 1/2 12 ounce cans)
1 stick of unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
In a sturdy saucepan or pot combine the sugar and milk and bring
to a boil over a medium-high flame. Cook this mixture stirring
continuously with a wooden spoon until it reaches the soft ball
candy stage(about 235 degrees if you are using a candy
thermometer or when mixture forms a soft ball when dropped in ice
water). This will take about 30 minutes. Make sure that you don't
stop stirring as the mixture will thicken too quickly and burn if left
unattended. After the mixture reaches the soft ball stage add the
remaining ingredients(butter,pecans and vanilla extract) and turn
off the heat. Stir the mixture for approximately three additional
minutes adding a little milk if it gets too thick to stir. Spoon the
mixture in the portion sizes that you want onto waxed paper and let
cool. ENJOY !
Valentine's Day is the day that we share the joys and marvels of one
of life's greatest pleasures, love. It is the time in which the goal is
to totally spoil your loved one and celebrate the beauty of your
relationship. Many people want expensive gifts and trinkets for
Valentine's Day, but even if you are someone that can afford to give
lavish trips and luxury cars, it is worth to stop and think about
giving a homemade candy gift that guarantees the pleasure of your
significant other in a way that an expensive piece of jewelery can
never do.
Candy is sensual, sweet and seductive which makes it the perfect
gift for Valentine's Day. An even more meaningful thing to do would
be to make the candy yourself. This would show the love of your
life that you truly took the time out to give them something special
this year. The perfect candy for this love gift is a delicious box of
New Orleans style praline candy.
Affectionately known as "pecan candy" in New Orleans, pralines are
a decadent blend of sugar, cream, butter and pecans that will
excite every taste bud of your lover's mouth. Put them in a gift box
along with some other presents of love and your partner will be so
thankful that you will want to make them all the time. They are
simple to make and it is with pleasure that I share this age old
sinfully delicious recipe from the South. More FREE creole recipes
and cooking tips can be found at The Recipe Hunter .
This recipe makes approximately 12 pralines.
"Authentic New Orleans Pralines"
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated white sugar
1 cup of light brown sugar
18 ounces of evaporated milk(about 1 1/2 12 ounce cans)
1 stick of unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
In a sturdy saucepan or pot combine the sugar and milk and bring
to a boil over a medium-high flame. Cook this mixture stirring
continuously with a wooden spoon until it reaches the soft ball
candy stage(about 235 degrees if you are using a candy
thermometer or when mixture forms a soft ball when dropped in ice
water). This will take about 30 minutes. Make sure that you don't
stop stirring as the mixture will thicken too quickly and burn if left
unattended. After the mixture reaches the soft ball stage add the
remaining ingredients(butter,pecans and vanilla extract) and turn
off the heat. Stir the mixture for approximately three additional
minutes adding a little milk if it gets too thick to stir. Spoon the
mixture in the portion sizes that you want onto waxed paper and let
cool. ENJOY !
Creole and Southern Easter Food Traditions
In New Orleans, when Mardi Gras is over and we have received
our ashes for Ash Wednesday, we start celebrating the Easter
season. Because most of us are Catholic, we don't eat meat on
Fridays during Lent. We usually eat seafood on Friday, which is
always plentiful in Louisiana. Fried catfish, Crawfish and Shrimp
Etoufee', Louisiana Seafood Gumbo(without sausage and chicken),
boiled crabs and crawfish, the list of seafood dishes that we eat on
Fridays during Lent is endless.
For Easter dinner we usually cook a lot of food. Usually a Baked
Ham or turkey or both, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Stuffed Bell
Peppers, Gumbo, Mustard Greens and a host of desserts. Some
families go strictly with a soul food Easter menu complete with
chitterlings and candied yams or sweet potatoes. As for Easter
candy, the praline reigns supreme for adults and of course the
children get a lot of different types of popular candy and toys in
their Easter baskets. Many of our cakes are derivatives of pound
cake with different ingredients such as sodas to put an original
twist on the flavor.
In New Orleans we truly enjoy the pleasures of eating, we enjoy the
pleasures of life. Hopefully this will rub off in the world and other
people will start enjoying the plentiful bounty of food that we have
been blessed to have on this earth.
In New Orleans, when Mardi Gras is over and we have received
our ashes for Ash Wednesday, we start celebrating the Easter
season. Because most of us are Catholic, we don't eat meat on
Fridays during Lent. We usually eat seafood on Friday, which is
always plentiful in Louisiana. Fried catfish, Crawfish and Shrimp
Etoufee', Louisiana Seafood Gumbo(without sausage and chicken),
boiled crabs and crawfish, the list of seafood dishes that we eat on
Fridays during Lent is endless.
For Easter dinner we usually cook a lot of food. Usually a Baked
Ham or turkey or both, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Stuffed Bell
Peppers, Gumbo, Mustard Greens and a host of desserts. Some
families go strictly with a soul food Easter menu complete with
chitterlings and candied yams or sweet potatoes. As for Easter
candy, the praline reigns supreme for adults and of course the
children get a lot of different types of popular candy and toys in
their Easter baskets. Many of our cakes are derivatives of pound
cake with different ingredients such as sodas to put an original
twist on the flavor.
In New Orleans we truly enjoy the pleasures of eating, we enjoy the
pleasures of life. Hopefully this will rub off in the world and other
people will start enjoying the plentiful bounty of food that we have
been blessed to have on this earth.
