Don't Forget Mardi Gras, Cher!

Krewe of Hermes - photo by John Donley.

Mardi Gras is very early this year - celebrate it on Tuesday, February 5.

The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors were chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand for the following:

Purple represents justice
Green stands for faith
Gold stands for power

My header is a giant Mardi Gras Bead I made after Katrina. I'll be wearing it on Tuesday!

Check out the Barkus Parade in the French Quarter - Pooches on Parade!

Here in Milwaukee people of Polish descent buy Packzis (which is pronounced poonch ki) - traditionally a prune-filled danish on the day before Ash Wednesday.

I'm celebrating by making a pot of red beans and rice and here's the recipe (not mine, but simple and good.)

RED BEANS AND RICE
4 cans red beans, drained
2 onions, chopped
1 c celery, finely chopped
1 lb andouille sausage (can substitute smoked sausage)
3 cloves garlic
cajun seasoning to taste

Garnish
hot sauce to taste
6 green onions, chopped
cooked white rice

Put all of the first ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook until tender (about two hours). Smash some of the beans to make the gravy.

Serve over hot white rice and garnish with green onions and some hot sauce. Put some South in yo mouth!



Today's Mardi Gras quote comes from Mark Twain: It (Mardi Gras) is a thing that could hardly exist in the practical North... for the soul of it is the romantic, not the funny and grotesque. Take away the romantic mysteries, the kings and knights and the big-sounding titles, and Mardi Gras would die, down there in the South.