Louisiana’s shape on the map is the reason it is referred to as “the boot,” and what an appropriate observation seeing how we love to tap our toes and kick up our heels passing a Mardi Gras party good time!
Mardi Gras Mambo – An Original Silkscreen by George Rodrigue
Louisiana loves to throw a party, and what makes a good party is great food, drink, and conversations about great Mardi Gras food and drink.
Mardi Gras party good time traditions slice and serve a Carnival staple, the infamous king cake, and people do have their favorites.
Dong Phuong Bakery
Delicious and in high demand, cinnamon king cake from Dong Phuong Bakery is king cake love at first bite.
As the window for shipment has closed, it is nothing for the king cake devoted to make the drive to New Orleans to pick up a cake or three (limit 3 per person).
If a king cake run to NOLA is not on your Mardi Gras radar, let me share with you this brioche & butter cream recipe for Soft and Moist Mardi Gras King Cake from Murmurs of Ricotta. Click on the link for the recipe.
From parish to parish, Louisiana is truly a melting pot of unique customs, traditions, and cultures. Courir de Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday Run) celebrates rural traditions rooted in medieval France known as fête de la quémande, or feast of begging.
Cajun music and dancing sets the soundtrack to this festive fête of raucous revelry.
Costume clad participants gather together in the early morning hours of Mardi Gras Day in many rural Louisiana towns intent on keeping tradition alive (as well as the chickens and animals encountered along the bayous and fields).
Louisiana Cajun Mardi Gras Art Print
Masked and adorned revelers travel on horseback from house to house throughout the rural communities putting on quite the show playing traditional Cajun music, dancing, and frolicking in exchange for ingredients and spices for the community gumbo feast at run’s end.
Parade route positions are prime real estate, staked out and claimed for optimum viewing and catching coveted Mardi Gras throws, beads, and doubloons.
It’s hard not to find yourself in a Mardi Gras party good time state of mind when you have a cup of café au lait in hand.
Louisiana gumbo serves main dish goodness, and new to the menu is King Cake Monkey Bread from Southern Living with a twist on the traditional taste of home.
King Cake Monkey Bread
Ingredients
3 (17.5-oz.) cans Pillsbury cinnamon rolls grands
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup granulate sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup evaporated milk
For Garnish: purple, yellow, green sanding sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a tube pan with cooking spray.
Separate cinnamon rolls, saving icing to use later. Cut each cinnamon roll into four pieces. Place cinnamon roll pieces in tube pan.
Beat together cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, and milk. Mix until combined. Pour cream cheese mixture over cinnamon rolls.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. After baking, let pan cool 10 minutes.
Turn baked monkey bread out on plate and ice with cinnamon roll icing. Decorate with purple, yellow, and green sanding sugar.
Louisiana is kicking up its heels in Mardi Gras party good time style. Mardi Gras parades are rolling, the party atmosphere is intoxicating, and time-honored traditions and customs well represented.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
