A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity Our Favorite Recipes Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras

I'm hostessing a party at my house for Fat Tuesday... the night before Lent begins. Traditionally, this is the time to use up rich ingredients from the kitchen so they don't go to waste during the more austere eating style of Lent.

There will be 9 people at my party for dinner and I'm having trouble thinking up a yummy menu that won't involve me cooking for three days straight ahead of time!

Lots of people serve pancakes, sausages, bacon, etc for Fat Tuesday but I'd like to turn it up a notch.

We are also planning on turning up the music, dancing and playing games. So I'll be happy for suggestions in those catagories as well!


Merme

I don't really know a lot about Mardi gras, Merme. So I would follow the creole traditions, I guess for ease of cooking; gumbo, red beans and rice, Mardi Gras cole slaw. Maybe some King cake with a plastic baby baked into it (who ever finds the baby has good luck)

yam biscuits is tradition also,, for breakfast, yam pancakes,, with pecan syrup for both
Also the one who finds the dried red bean or tiny plastic baby (representing Christ Child) in the King cake is the one that not only will have good luck in the new year but also has to host the Mardi Gras fat Tues party for next year,
,, as Tina said,, creole recipes is the way they do it here,, jambalaya is easy,, any seafood dish ,, any kind of, like seafood salad,,
crawfish,,
shrimp,,
crabcakes,
fried catfish,,
egg dishes,, representing New life,, egg salads, deviled eggs,, , egg quiches' etc
Bread pudding
layered puddings/pies

Golds and Purples are the colors primarily used in decorations,,,, Represents Royalty for the Christ child,,

All good ideas!
My wife has been to Mardi Gras many times but I've never been.
The deviled eggs sound pretty easy...I love 'em myself. I've tried using a tiny dab of black caviar on top...paprika is a traditional garnish around here...They're great with a single pre-sliced olive on top, or I use pimientos out of a little 4 oz jar, yum.
Red Beans and rice for sure, add a little heat if you can take it, and wife says bacon or sausage is traditional...I always thought Andouli sausage, she says pork is traditional as well.
Shrimp wrapped in bacon and broiled would RULE, esp w/ a slice of jalapeno pinned to it all with a toothpick...mmmm, jalapenos...

DURN! Where'd all these strings of cheap plastic beads come from?

crayfish Etouffee maybe. Seems like a lot of work. Beer is what I've noticed most at Mardi Gras.

Sheri I probably couldn't get crayfish up here. Crabs aren't even the same as what you guys are used to.

We have lobster & shrimp, though.

I would like shrimp wrapped with bacon. So would all of my guests. A couple of years ago I served both pineapple wrapped with bacon and water chestnuts wrapped with bacon and BBQ sauce and both were a big hit.

I hate moon pies. I'm thinking of a charlotte.


Merme

An R. O. C. Cola and a Moon Pie. Now THAT'S a feast!!!! And throw in a Goo - Goo candy bar for dessert!

unless you get it from rosie o'grady's. that's pretty good too

merme, want me to find a hurricane drink recipe?

Hurricane (serves 2)
Ingredients

* 4 ounces rum (preferably 2 ounces each of light and dark rum)
* 2 ounces passion fruit nectar
* 1 lime, juice of
* 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
* ice

Directions

1.Mix rum, passion fruit syrup, lime juice and sugar in a shaker until sugar dissolves.
2.Pour over ice.

A non-alcoholic version called Eye of the Hurricane
Makes almost half a gallon
* 1 (12 ounce) can frozen tropical punch concentrate, thawed
* 1 (7 ounce) bottle roses sweetened lime juice, chilled
* 1 (1 liter) bottle Sprite or 7-Up soda, chilled
Stir all together. Serve over ice.

Jiffy ~ is the recipe Tina posted similar to what you know?

I have directions for a drink called "Storm Of The Century Hurricane" and it consists of

light rum
dark rum
coconut rum
vodka
gin
Chambord (raspberry liqueur)
Triple Sec
OJ
orange slices
Marrishino cherries


But I'm really leaning more toward something like a Trinidad Creme Punch (Ponche de Creme).... because there will be little kids at this party.


Merme

merme, your's is closer to what i know. you serve them in a tall glass over crushed ice, and put a gin soaked sugar cube on top and light it at serving. they are called flaming hurricane. i'll dig out the recipe.

they have a 2 drink per person limit (back in the day, i'm sure it's one now) because they are very strong. you use full shots of each liquor and serve them in hurricane glasses which are stemware that is shaped much like the globe from an oil lamp (hurricane lamp is what we called them growing up, i'm sure you get the point).

ok, i did some research and spent some time jogging my very slow memory and here is what i remember a //www.agardenersforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=258760#Post258760 to be. this is a drink best sipped with 2 or 3 people having straws in one glass.

1 shot light rum
1 shot dark rum
1 shot spiced rum
1 shot coconut rum
1 shot vodka
1 shot sloe gin
1 shot Bacardi 151 or Everclear (save for top of drink)
cranberry juice
pineapple juice
orange juice
grenadine

Mix everything except the 151 or Everclear and pour over crushed ice in a very large glass (hurricane glass if you have them). Garnish with a maraschino cherry, orange slice and pineapple wedge. Top with a sugar cube soaked in the Bacardi 151 or everclear, pouring the remainder of the 151 or Everclear on top. Light sugar cube just before serving. Serve lit.

WARNING - alcohol burns almost an invisible blue, the sugar helps turn the flame orange

I prefer the Bacardi 151, it tastes better to me, but as the alcohol burns mostly off, the Everclear isn’t really tasted. Everclear is pure grain alcohol, Bacardi is made from sugar cane.

WARNING – this drink is a 1 drink per person, served with or after a heavy meal. And plan to sleep where you drink it. Even I, back in my drinking days, did not drink more than 1 ½ and I never drove after drinking one. Because of the juice, you don’t taste the alcohol, and it will sneak up on you.

My EX's girlfriends parents are coming to the party. They both work in the food industry & used to be caterers. They have volunteered to make the King Cake.


Merme

That is very nice, Merme. Less for you to take on. Have you decided on a menu?

One of my guests is allergic to seafood, so I have to find at least a couple of things that are free of it. I had forgotten about this allergy when I made my first menu but Maxi reminded me. I am glad he did!!


So, I'm still searching for more ideas.


Merme

Most of the gumbo I have had is of the chicken and sausage variety, Merme. I like that better than a seafood one.

I'm just not sure about the availability of okra in Maine in February, Tina. So, I've been looking at some Jambalaya recipes.


Merme

Okra is an optional item in gumbo actually, Merme. Even my southern in-laws don't always like it in there

I use file' powder not okra for my gumbo...you use it just before it finishes cooking. And chicken and pork or sausage is the meats most used in the recipes I have seen. I fell in love with cajun cooking several years ago and have gotten several cookbooks and an email penpalship several years ago with a chef in a cajun restaurant over on the Oregon coast who unfortunatly, I have lost touch with. And he never gave me his stuffed eggplant recipe that I was so nuts about. I spend most of February going cajun. I have to buy frozn crayfish tho and they can be kind of hard to come by.

Memosa you have some really good ideas!

Okay... my party menu, final version:

Appetizers:
Bacon Cheddar Pinwheels
Broiled Water chestnuts w/ bacon & BBQ sauce

Main Fare:
Shrimp Etouffe
Chicken & Andoulie Sausage Gumbo *without okra*
Homemade Hush Puppies

Drinks:
Hurricane's for the adults
Eye of the Hurricane for kids

Dessert:
King Cake
Coffee

I've got crown and beads for everyone. I can't find my feathers so I'm not making the masks. I also got chocolate "doubloons" for the kids which they can win while playing dancing games.

I plan on taking pictures!


Merme

WOW It all sounds awesome,,,,,,, And sounds like you're going to be very busy,, But having fun too!!!!!!
Can't wait to see Pictures!!!