Mardi Gras Jambalaya + Cajun Pooch Parade

Here are a few more Mardi Gras delights that I will be serving at my Mardi Gras party. This mouthwatering  jambalaya is out of this world and when I tell you that it's fabulous, then you know that I mean it, cher! Ca cest bon! Enjoy!

Mardi Gras Jambalaya

2 tbs.'s olive oil

1 lb. large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
2 links Andouille sausage, sliced
1 cup cooked ham, cubed
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup, each, of "the trinity", (onions, celery, and bell peppers), chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 cups seafood or chicken stock
1 can diced Rotel tomatoes w/ green chilies, drained (mild or hot)
1 small can tomato sauce
2 cups uncooked rice
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. to 1 tbs. Cajun seasoning (depending on how hot you like it)
Tabasco to taste

In a large heavy pot, saute the sausage and ham,  in the olive oil,  for 1o minutes. Add the seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, and trinity, and cook, while stirring, for 5 more minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add the shrimp, tomatoes, parsley, and seafood stock and bring to a boil.  Add the rice and tomato sauce,  lower heat, stir, and simmer for 5 minutes, uncovered. Then cover and simmer on low, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir gently before serving. Serves 6 Bon Appetit!

Confetti Cornbread Muffins

1 3/4 cups yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup all purpose flour

4 tsp.'s baking powder

1/4 tsp.baking soda

1 tsp.salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 cups "no fat" or regular buttermilk

2 eggs

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped

1 (7 1/2 oz.) can Green Giant Mexi-Corn

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In separate bowl, combine the eggs, buttermilk, eggs, and vegetable oil, and beat well. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until just blended. Stir in the Mexi-Corn and jalapenos and blend well. Let batter rest for 5 minutes and pour into prepared muffin cups or paper liners. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 2 dozen. Fab!

Pooch Parade

Mardi Gras parades began in Lafayette, on Saturday, with the Krewe de Chiens Parade,

(French for krewe of dogs), better known as the Pooch Parade. It was a glorious afternoon, 80 degrees and mostly sunny, and a record crowd turned out to watch this doggie bonanza. (click to enlarge)

Here were a few of my faves. Here is King Gumbo XIII, aka/Tug. He looks as though he could care less about the thousands of folks who are cheering as he passes by!

And there was an assortment of all different breeds, proudly walked by their owners, as they tossed beads to the crowd.

Next up was Fergus, riding in costume on the back of a vintage convertible on a royal cushion. At least he was smiling and seemed to be enjoying himself.

This next little Beagle seemed to be looking right at me, as I almost knocked two people down, trying to snap his photo. His owner had a bead rig and had a matching costume.

This little pup was loving every second of the applause and seemed to know that it was all for him or her. And a wagon fit for royalty. Only in Lafayette!

Hope that ya'll have a wonderful, happy week! Lots more fun to come, so stay tuned!

Merci beaucoup for coming by! Happy Mardi Gras!

Spicy Beer-Boiled Shrimp + A Cajun Waltz

 When a friend of mine called and asked if I wanted 10 lbs. of large Gulf shrimp, I literally jumped with joy! Since I am a shrimp-o-holic and absolutely love to eat shrimp, I immediately starting planning how I was going to prepare this little gift from heaven. With the beautiful weather we've been having, (sunny and 70's, for a week now), I decided to use one of my favorite shrimp boiling recipes and to invite a few friends over to enjoy a boiled shrimp feast. Oh, cest bon cher! Enjoy! (photo courtesy of Google)

Spicy Beer-Boiled Shrimp

Large, unpeeled, headless shrimp

4 cups water, per pound

1/2  bottle, (6oz.), of good beer, per pound

1 tbs. salt, per pound

1 pkg. Zatarain's Crab and Shrimp Boil (per 5 lbs.)

or 3 tbs.'s  or more, Cajun seasoning per pound

1 onion, per pound, quartered

1 lemon, per pound, quartered

1 bay leaf, per pound
2 ears fresh corn, cut in half, per pound
1 lb. small red potatoes, per pound

In large stockpot, place water, beer, seasonings, salt, bay leaves, onions, potatoes, corn, and lemons, and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes. Add shrimp and boil for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes and remove from heat. Add a tray of ice cubes to the pot, to cool it down. Let sit for 10 minutes or more. Remove shrimp, corn, and potatoes, and serve with seafood sauce. (recipe below) Out of this world!

Tangy Hot Seafood Sauce #2

 3/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup light mayo

2 tbs.'s Creole mustard

1 tsp. prepared horseradish

1 tsp. Tabasco sauce

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. dill pickle relish

Combine all ingredients in bowl,  until well mixed,  and chill until ready to serve.

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A Cajun Waltz

I've had a special request for a Cajun waltz, which is my favorite way to Cajun dance, besides a jitterbug, that is. Here's a little clip of Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, swaying the crowd at Rythyms on the River in River Ranch. This one's for you, cher!

It's almost time for Mardi Gras parades! Woo hoo! Lafayette is ready for some good ole Cajun Mardi Gras fun! For a complete Lafayette parade schedule, click here. See ya'll there!

Wishing you all a fabulous week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Dat Tuesday! + Party Gras Day!

It was a picture perfect day, in Cajun Country, for Dat Tuesday! Not a cloud in the sky, sunny and 58 degrees, which was absolutely perfect, for the many Mardi Gras festivities going on around Lafayette.

Every where you went, people were shouting Who Dat or We Dat and cheering! There were Who Dat floats, Who Dat music, Who Dat, signs, Who Dat t-shirts; you get the idea? You might even say that many were STILL celebrating the New Orleans Saints Superbowl Victory! Woo-hoo! We "ALL" Dat, cher! Yeah, Saints!



We started out at Bisbano's for a little noontime happy hour and the King's Parade. These Cajun gals were dressed up for the occasion! That's a Hurricane that she's drinking! Guaranteed to make you happy, cher!

After the King's parade, we decided to head over to Cajun Field for the two afternoon parades. We were starving and went over to a friend's tent.

A fabulous array of goodies, including two King Cakes, on this snack table! As hard as it's going to be, I am giving up King Cake for lent, btw!



And some other friends were cookin' up some BBQ ribs and sausage! Out of this world, cher!


At Le Festival des Mardi Gras de Lafayette, the sensational , "Louisiana Red" band was jamming for the crowd. Check out the boots, ya'll! Kids of all ages enjoyed the great carnival rides.

These two floats were emptying their stash, as the parades came to an end!

You might say that catching beads is an obsession with some Cajuns!

And this was the day's bounty in beads! And catching my favorite mask beads
means good luck all year!

Everywhere you looked people were smiling, cheering, and catching beads, eating, drinking, being merry! And and just having a blast! The crowds were among the biggest, in Lafayette Mardi Gras history, and it was just an awesome day, filled with great Cajun fun! Until next year.....Let the good times roll, cher! And don't forget that Downtown Alive is right around the corner!

Mardi Gras Around Lafayette ! - Part II

We had an absolute blast at last night's Lundi Gras celebration, in Lafayette! Before heading to the parade, we went to Tampico's for a little refreshment. I had my favorite Crab Stuffed Jalapenos and we ordered a round of Coronas to quelsh the heat from these divinely delicious, hot peppers. Ca cest bon, cher!

We met some friends on Johnston Street, to watch the fabulous Queen's Parade where the beads were really flying! The crowd was ready to catch some beads! More beads!

Throw Me Somethin' Sista!

The crowd was wild and went wilder with each passing float!

Queen's Parade

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And just in case that you want to watch TODAY'S New Orleans parades, , LIVE,
just click here for the LIVE web cam! Many thanks to my dear fellow Cajun , Angie, over @ GUMBO WRITER who was kind enough to share this link, on her post, yesterday. Please pay her a visit, when you have time. Enjoy!

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After the parade, we were ready for some more refreshment and headed over to the Blue Moon Saloon for a "blow out" Lundi Gras party. The crowd was super charged and in full Zydeco dance mode. Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole were rocking the house. The place was packed to the gills with revelers, the dance floor was rocking, (literally) and the energy was electric!

Oh, the life of a Cajun, is oh SO FUN!!! And , Fat Tuesday, will be the most fun of all! Lassiez les Bon Temps Rouler! Wish you ALL were here!

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!

Cedric Watson & Creole Bijou

Mardi Gras Around Lafayette - Part I

Everyone has heard of the world famous Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but Lafayette has the second biggest celebration in Louisiana, and is second to none, when it comes to throwing this party of all parties!

We are quite a bit more family oriented and have very little crime, when over 300,000 visitors descend on Cajun Country! It's a shindig that you'll never forget and is so much fun!!!

It's a magical time of year when we get to go to fancy balls, wear outrageous costumes, listen to and dance to great music, go to fantastic parades and catch lots of beads, and eat lots of fabulous food! Lafayette rolls out the red carpet for visitors from around the world and does so in a style that is uniquely "Lafayette". Good old Cajun hospitality, at it's best.

 









"Le Festival de Mardi Gras des Lafayette" is held at Cajun Field and has 2 music stages, with many great Cajun and Zydeco bands playing, throughout Mardi Gras, a giant amusement park, and is at the tail end of all big parades. Many floats hold off on throwing huge batches of beads until the end, so this can also be a great spot to catch beads, too. The Bayou Boys were rockin' the crowd, last year, on Mardi Gras Day! A bon ton, cher!

Then, there is the Krewe des Chiens parade in Downtown Lafayette. That's right, a doggie parade that is very popular and so much fun! Last year, my favorite entry was this cute wagon with "Daisy and Angel", dressed in their Mardi Gras finery. And loved this doggie float, too! (click to enlarge)

Then, on Fat Tuesday, there are three parades and the beads are really flying at these. Here's a little clip from The 2009' Independent Parade. Let the good times roll, cher! For a complete Lafayette Mardi Gras schedule, click here. Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Record crowds turned out to celebrate Lundi Gras (Mardi Gras Eve) tonight, in Lafayette. The Queen's Parade started rolling at 6 pm. and shortly after, the downtown party was in full swing. Elaborate floats with costumed revelers and lots of beads made this year's Lundi Gras parade a lot of fun.

And the crowd went crazy for the The Krewe Of Attakapas float which is known for throwing the most beads. After the parade, we headed over to the Blue Moon Saloon where a super Mardi Gras party was already in progress. Balfa Toujours, a popular Cajun band, was rocking the house and the dance floor was filled to capacity with a whole lot of two-stepping going on. Hot is the only way to describe it! Fat Tuesday, coming up next. See ya'll there! Let the good times roll, cher!