First you make da Roux!!!

[davsand]

Celebrating Mardi Gras a day early this year with a pot of suasage chicken gumbo simmering on the stove. What are YOU doing to laissez les bons temps rouler?




Laura

[nolabear]

1. Happy Lundi Gras, Cher!

I'm rocking a cold and wishing I was in New Orleans. Oh well, maybe next year.

If you go to www.nola.com you can see videos and live feeds of the parades. Will Farrell was Bacchus this year, but I always like the home grown floats best.

[MiddleFingerMom]

2. There've been times in my life when I truly believe that Bacchus looked down upon me from on high...

.
.
.
... and said, "DAY-YUMMM!!!.
.
.
.
I have had a VERY good life.
.
.
.

[davsand]

4. And happy Lundi Gras to you!

Wishing I was there to hit the streets!

I have a theory that once you've been to New Orleans you will become sterile unless you eat Gumbo at least once during the season. Just doing my little part to ensure a happy year ahead in the Sand household!






Being born a German/American by heritage, I should probably offer up a Gutten Rosenmontag to you, as well!



Laura

[cbayer]

3. Wishing I was there.

I lived within blocks of the uptown parade route for 20 years, and I really miss it.

[Danmel]

5. shrimp stock done

Now going to make the roux for my shrimp and andouille gumbo. Got some Abita beer chilling too!

[davsand]

6. I looked for some Dixie and didn't find any.

The grocery store didn't have Abita either. I really wanted either some Dixie or some dark Abita.






Laura

[OriginalGeek]

15. Turbodog is a beautiful thing

There used to be a Cajun restaurant right by my work but it went out of business after the owner got sick and sold it to the chef. I think he was a great chef but a lousy businessman. It was rocking for years but was gone less than a year after the sale. I miss that place. Their crawfish etouffee was a sin worth committing. And they had a lot of Abita beers but Turbodog was my favorite.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

7. Did ya add the trinity! Got to have the trinity!

I am celebrating in a farmer’s field at $5 a night with some people I do not know, Dave and the Capt! Good Party

[davsand]

10. Could it even be considered Gumbo without the Trinity?

I doubt it!

Shoot, I never cease to be amazed at the debate between the File and the Okra folks. Tonight I made Okra Gumbo, next time it might be File Gumbo. We love it all, you see...



Laura

[Behind the Aegis]

8. I may try my hand at a King cake. Not sure though.

This is our second year away from NOLA for Mardi Gras.

[davsand]

9. I have wondered about making one.

We have Schnucks grocery chain in our area, however, and they make them every year. Schnucks is based in St Louis, and as a French settled river town, they do have a few traditions in common with New Orleans--including Mardi Gras and King Cakes.

Anyhoo--those King Cakes look like they'd be fairly easy to make, and you could fill it with whatever filling makes you go "yum!"

Sorry you are missing NOLA right now. I bet this is a really tough time to be away...






Laura

[Brickbat]

11. If I can get my shit together, I might make some paczki tomorrow.

Pączki.

[davsand]

12. OMG! I love Paczki!

They have had them in the Schnuck's deli for the last week or so and I have eyballed them every time I've gone by! Those were never real common around here when I was a kid--they really hit my radar just a few year ago. Food fit for the gods!



Laura

[pacalo]

13. I made a large pot of chicken gumbo on Saturday & we finished it off last night.

It was wonderful.

Making roux takes a long time for me because I like to cook it slowly, so what I do is make a large cast iron pot of it & freeze it after it cools. It's so convenient to take it out of the freezer as I need it, & it's a big timesaver, too.

Tonight we had shrimp jambalaya.

[Burma Jones]

14. I've made some Red Beans to be added to Rice that are cooling off right now

The Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo is already in the fridge.

The local bakery (Rockville, MD) had King Cake yesterday, I might look tomorrow.....otherwise, I'll do Beignets.


And either a Hurricane or a Sazerac tomorrow......