Mardi Gras Fun!

It is Mardi Gras, the last day of feasting and fun before Lent. All sorts of  delicious customs abound and they do revolve around food and revelry. Enjoy them  while the day lasts.

Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday in French  is the period before Lent, primarily the season's first holy day , Ash Wednesday. It's celebrated all over the world, primarily in Christian countries. In England and Ireland, it is called Shrovetide/Pancakes are made during this time, with shrive meaning absolve.It was a time when housewives cleaned the house of butter and milk, forbidden food during Lent. This resulted in pancakes, a part of an older tradition, take from the Slavs. They believed the period between winter and Spring was a fight between the two seasons' gods. To bring forth the sun, imitations of it were made in the form of golden yellow pancakes. The first made one was placed in a window to lure the Spring gods. These discs are just fun to make, and who doesn't like a short stack for dinner. For fun try making them coin size to resemble the coins thrown at one of the biggest Mardi Gras celebration , the one down in New Orleans.Of course the best sweet from there is the King Cake.They first are made at the beginning of Mardi Gras , January 6th , or Epiphany. These are buttery Danishes braided and then decorated with gold, green and purple icing and sugar. Little trinkets are baked in them. It could be a bean, a ring or a baby.

Continental Europe also celebrates the day with flair.The Germans make a kind of doughnut known as Fastnacht krapfen or Berliner. These doughnuts are wonderful yeasty treats dipped in granulated sugar. The Portuguese have something similar with malasada /Many Portuguese went to both Rhode Island and Hawaii where the treats are filled with custard and chocolate along with ,haupia, a coconut milk based custard and guava. The southern hemisphere  also rocks the day. Brazil reinvented the holiday with wild dancing and revelry. There is eating too, namely grilled meats on sticks and bolos, meat pies. Feijoada a spicy stew, is also made with beef and pork with the addition of chopped chorizos  or spicy sausage added in along with bacon and beans, It's served over rice. another dish good with rice is the creamy shrimp saute called bobo/ This Carnivale favorite also has African roots too as seen in the addition of the cassava root. Tomatoes and palm oils are also included to give the dish its' smooth creaminess. everything is washed down with a lime and rum dish known as Caipirinha,

Mardi Gras is a time meant for good feasting and good partying No matter where you are in the world, it's carnival.Enjoy the treats of the day!