Monday, February 1, 2010

Almost Time For Parades! + Mama's Shrimp Stew

Less than a week until the Mardi Gras parades begin! The Krewe of Rio parade will roll on Saturday night in downtown Lafayette and there will be a giant pre-parade celebration in Parc Sans Souci on Saturday afternoon. Plus, a lot of small towns in Cajun Country have their own unique parades and celebrations. One of my favorite Mardi Gras parades is in Scott, Louisiana and is just a stone's throw away from Lafayette. 

It is a wonderful family oriented event is considered a kick off to the parade season by many, and draws huge crowds of revelers and is very generous with beads! Did somebody say beads? Let the good times roll, cher! The Scott Mardi Gras Parade is on Sunday, February 7, at 1:00pm! See ya'll there! And don't forget the fais do do, after the parade at Fezzo's! And don't worry, you will have time to dance a few, before going to your "Black and Gold" Superbowl party! What a blast of a weekend, coming right up, cher! Oh the life of a Cajun is oh so fun!!!

Here are a few pics of last year's parade. (click to enlarge)





Throw me somethin', Mista!
  ^^^^^^

 Here's a Cajun fave that really hits the spot anytime, but is a Friday Lenten special in Cajun Country. My dear mother's shrimp stew was the most scrumptious dish you can imagine, and especially when she added a half dozen gumbo crabs to the pot! Cest bon, cher! She always made her delicious potato salad to accompany the spicy stew, and lots of French bread for dipping!
Enjoy! Le bon manger!

 


Mama's Shrimp Stew

2 lbs. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 large onion, chopped
1 bell pepper,
chopped
3 ribs celery, sliced thin
1 can Rotel tomatoes w/ green chilies
2 tsp's minced garlic
Salt to taste
2 tbs.'s Tony's Creole seasoning ( divided)
1 cup warm water
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1 lemon, sliced

Season shrimp with 1 tbs. Tony's seasoning and set aside. Make a roux with the flour and oil in a heavy pot. On medium heat, stir constantly, until roux is a rich brown color. (10 to 15 min.'s) Lower heat and add the onions, bell peppers, celery, Rotel, and garlic and stir for 5 minutes. Add the water, salt, and 1 tbs. Tony's seasoning and bring to a boil. Lower heat, add shrimp and place lemon slices on top and cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove lemon slices and add the green onions and parsley, and simmer for 10 more minutes. Serve over hot cooked rice with a scoop of potato salad and French bread. Serves 6 Bon Appetit!


27 comments:

Carol Murdock said...

Hey girl,
You are having way to much fun "down in Bayou Country"!!
I'm gonna make this Shrimp Stew, maybe tonight for supper......
Sounds so good! :) XOXO

judi/Gmj said...

Rotel will spice anything up. This looks fab.

Eddie Bluelights said...

Looks really great Marguerite, this shrimp stew - making me feel hungry.
Glad you are still having a ball and enjoy the Mardi Gras ~ Eddie

Joanne said...

A blast of a weekend, and don't forget that amazing Super Bowl right in the middle of it all! Louisianna will be rockin'!

Boozy Tooth said...

Looks like another winning recipe! I just sent it to the printer!

Thanks for keeping us in scrumptious Cajun recipes. I so enjoyed the crab bisque and now this...

Looking forward to making it!

Love you!

Jo said...

I would absolutely love, love, love, LOVE to go to Mardi Gras. It looks like SO MUCH FUN...!

Nancy said...

I always wondered - do you save your beads to give away the next year, or do you just save them?

This stew looks heavenly. Enjoy your weekend!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

so much fun... One day, I will make it for the real Mardi Gras parties...

So, when you say add crab, do you mean crab meat> I am thinking of making this, and would like to do it right... what type of crab???

GYPSYWOMAN said...

oh, girl, i can hear it all now!!! and see all the colors and smell all those delicious foods cookin' - yummmmmm.....thanks so much for recipe, too -

my daughter lisa is headed home to shreveport this weekend!!! i'm so jealous!

have a fabulous louisiana week and more, lady!

Cloudia said...

So exciting!!!!!!



Aloha, Friend


Comfort Spiral

Rosaria Williams said...

Terrific idea for all kinds of parties! Yes. Thank you, Marguerite.

Malisa said...

I made your shrimp stew tonight. Just ten more minutes and we can eat! Can't wait...it smells SO GOOD!

Malisa said...

Oh my gosh! Your shrimp stew was the best! I am sending this recipe on to my two grown sons who are cajun cuisine lovers! Thanks so much!

California Girl said...

yore mamma's shrimp stew sounds delicious and easy. i will have to try that recipe.

Marguerite said...

Carol- Now, you know that there is NO such thing as TOO much fun, here! lol So glad that you like the recipe! Enjoy, cher! Thanks!

Judi- I just love to cook with Rotel. You're so right, it will! So hot and spicy! Thanks for coming by, cher!

Eddie- Merci beaucoup, it's my pleasure to make you hungry. This shrimp stew is simply divine! It is all a blast and we've got the best two weeks coming up. Stay tuned, mon ami!

Joanne- You've got that right, cher!! Between Mardi Gras and the Superbowl, we are bursting at the seams with fun! Wish you were here!

Alix- Merci beaucoup, you are very welcome! Oh, I know that you will love this one! Thanks so much for for trying it! Bon appetit!

Jo- Great to hear from you! I would absolutely love it, if you could come to Mardi Gras, too! It's a blast! Maybe next year?

John said...

It's not fair reading these recipes on a European February day!

Anonymous said...

Wow. That looks good enough to eat. LOL And it sounds better.

Marguerite said...

Nancy- I donate most to my Mardi Gras Krewe, but I save my favorite ones. Thanks, hope that you enjoy yours, too!

Dave- As much as you love New Orleans, you really MUST go to Mardi Gras! Shoot for next year!

I use gumbo crabs, which are available at my favorite grocery store. They are small crabs, cleaned and cut in half, to be used in gumbos and stews. You could, however, only use 1 1/2 lbs. of shrimp and 1/2 lb. of lump crab meat and it would be fab!

Gypsy- Thanks so much for your lovely comment, cher! I wish that you could have come down with your daughter. Hope you're having a great week, too!

Cloudia- You got "dat" right, Gal
pal! Aloha!

Elizabeth- Melt-in-your-mouth good, cher! Thanks for stopping by!

Kat said...

Mardi Gras is so much fun! We used to live in Mobile and they have the festivities too. Our boys loved it. We are so excited for the Saints.

Judith A . Bates said...

I am SO going to make the shrimp stew! Maybe even while watching the Saints win the Superbowl..."Go Saints" from up here in Maryland!!!

Boozy Tooth said...

Hey Marguerite! Just popped back in to let you know I'm making your mama's shrimp stew for dinner tonight. I'll let you know how it goes, but I have a feeling I already know. It's going to be heaven on earth, just like the crab bisque.

To be continued...

Vagabonde said...

Marguerite I think you make all your blogging friends hungry just by looking at your fabulous food. I also think that if there were a travel machine which could transport us to Lafayette instantly, you would have even more company – myself included – it sounds like so much fun.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Yum, this shrimp stew looks and sounds so good!

My MIL sent us a King Cake yesterday...you know we are loving that!

Who Dat!

Marguerite said...

lakeviewer- You are so right! This stew is fabulous, any time! You're welcome, cher! Thanks for stopping by!

Malisa- Wow! I am so happy that you tried the recipe and that you enjoyed it!! And thank you so much for trying it and for your kind compliment, cher! You're very welcome, it was my pleasure to share it with you!

Cal. Girl- So good to hear from you! It's cest bon, for sure, cher! Good on a cold snowy day! Stay warm! Cheers!

John- It's perfect for the weather you're having. Just follow the recipe and enjoy!

Abe- Hi and welcome to Cajun Country! I am so delighted that you stopped by and merci beaucoup for your kind comment! Hope you come back, soon!

Anonymous said...

Shrimp stew! I heart shrimp stew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sanjeet said...

Looks really great Marguerite, this shrimp stew
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Marguerite said...

Kat- You got Dat right, cher! The Saints are the BEST! I've heard that the Mobile Mardi Gras is fun, too! You need to visit B.'s sister, in New Orleans, NOW! :)

Judith- So glad you want to try the stew! It's divine! I would never steer you wrong! Thanks so much for coming by and for pulling for the Saints! Wish you were here!

Alix- I know that you will love it, cher! Thanks and enjoy! You are the best friend that a girl could have! Cheers!

Vagabonde- Merci, cher, that's the idea! lol So glad you enjoy it! You should just hop on the next plane to New Orleans! You would absolutely love it, for sure!

Katherine- Merci beaucoup, it IS sinfully delicious. cher! It was so nice of your MIL to send you a King Cake! I know that ya'll "tore it up"! WE DAT!

Roux- Thanks for your sweet comment, cher! It's one of my faves, too! I loved your Black and Gold Cupcakes recipe! Yum!

sanjeet- Hi and welcome to Cajun Country! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your lovely comment!