Mardi Gras Fun

Today is Mardi Gras, the last day of celebration beforeLent.Throughout the world there are amazing celebrations with tons of party food.One of the best places to celebrate is here in the States down in New Orleans.The Cajuns and Creoles, locals down there have givenus delicious recipes that actually can be eaten any time of year. One of the most famous dishes is gumbo.It's a well known dish with roots in West Africa. This stew whose name come from the African word for okra can be made tailored to your tastes.You can add okra, however this veggies is an acquired taste, thanks to it's sliminess.It should have the famed and ultra spicy Andouille sausage for kick,along with red hot pepper flakes and Creole seasoning .This last you can make at home by mixing a variety of dried peppers with paprika ,onion and garlic powders.Dried basil and thyme are also added as well.If you want a seafood gumbo, perfect not only for Mardi Gras but for Lenten Fridays,add shrimp and craw daddies (sub in lobster if you can't find the car daddies or bayou lobsters). Jambalaya is another tasty treat from the Big Easy.It's a traditional rice dish with chicken,sausage,shrimp and pepper.It is seasoned heavily with Cajun spices and slow cooked for seven hours before serving.It's a great crock pot recipe to try as well. Mardi Gras celebrations wouldn't be the same without the famed King Cake.This is one of the city's oldest traditions,first being baked in France for Epiphany.It's decorated in gold ,purple and green, symbolizing power, justice and faith.A trinket, namely a ring is baked inside .The person who finds this prize has to buy next year's cake.It's a flaky,buttery composition filled with either a cream cheese ,apple or strawberry filling.Of course there are the famed beignets.These are fried puffs of dough,which are then dredged in powdered sugar.You can also dip these in melted chocolate ,caramel or even an orange brandy sauce.Bananas also figure in Crescent City desserts.Banana pudding is an easy mix of Nilla wafers, bananas and vanilla pudding.Bananas Foster is a yummy hot mix of bananas,brown sugar,rum and butter .It can be served over ice cream or eaten just as is. Mardi Gras is a time for revelry bordering on debauched.Satisfy your gluttonous side with these richly flavored savories and sweet.They make a perfect farewell dinner before the strict dieting of Lent.