Mardi Gras recipes

Mardi Gras dinner was YUMM-O!!!

On the menu was:

Andouille and Shrimp Gumbo with Rice

Cheesy Garlic bread

Beignets

Mock-King Cake Knots

I have to apologize, my intent was to take pictures of the cooking, the eating, and the silliness of bead-wearing, beignet eating fun!

But alas, things got hectic and I got side tracked.

I DO have recipes :)

First up:

Gumbo

...which I made in the crockpot. (I know...that's NOT the norm, Gumbo is an all-day affair, but hey - for busy mommas, it works - and it's still yummy! lol)

Shopping List:

3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons oil
1/2 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices
2 cups frozen cut okra
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 can (14.5 ounce size) diced tomatoes, undrained (I used diced tomatoes with peppers and onions already in it for more yumminess)
1 package (12 ounce size) frozen shelled deveined cooked medium shrimp, rinsed
1 1/2 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
3 cups water

mmm....the "trinity" onions, green pepper, and GARLIC!

DIRECTIONS:

In small saucepan, combine flour and oil; using a whisk helps with clumps! Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; stir constantly, about 10 minutes or until mixture turns reddish brown. 

It'll almost look like a penny - and it'll smell pretty bleh too! lol

Place flour-oil mixture in 3 1/2 to 4 quart Crockpot.  

Stir in all remaining ingredients except shrimp, rice and water. 

Cover; cook on low setting for 7-9 hours. When ready to serve, cook rice in water as directed on package. Meanwhile, add shrimp to gumbo mixture in crockpot; mix well. Cover; cook on low setting for additional 20 minutes. Serve gumbo over rice.

Next up...

Cheesy Garlic Bread

I'm so bummed I don't have a picture of these...but they are DEVINE!

Shopping List:

french loaf bread, cut into slices (probably more thick than thin)

stick of butter (room temp)

and as many garlic cloves as  you want....ha! I am obsessed with like garlic, so I used like 4-5 cloves, and you want to mince it (I have a garlic press, or you can chop it fine!)

Shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:

mix the butter and garlic, then slather each slice of bread with it. Top with cheese. Put in the oven and BROIL it...make sure to watch it!! as soon as the cheese is melted, they are done! You will get a nice crisp on the crust on the top, but the bottom stays nice and "squishy" like fresh bread still....ummm. yeah. we ate the WHOLE loaf last night! lol

Next up...

Beignets!!


Ok, you can NOT go to New Orleans and NOT go to



It is SOOO yummy!! You buy a sack of beignets, they give the fried doughy goodness to you in a white paper bag with powdered sugar, and you shake them up - yes please!

So, I had to have beignets for dessert.

Again, no pictures, but that's ok, I found one online...lol!



I used the FABulous Paula Deen's recipe....beware - this recipe makes a TON!

And Lastly,

King Cake Knots


It is tradition to buy your friends & family a King Cake during this week. AND there is a baby (little plastic thing) baked inside the cake. And whoever finds the baby in their piece of cake, they have to buy the next King Cake for everyone.

We actually still have this baby from like 6 years ago when we found it in our piece. It's a running joke that we take it on our vacays with us and take pictures of all of it's travels! lol

Anyway, I didn't want to bake a huge cake, so I found this recipe from Plain Chicken...



And YES!!! You HAVE to add the sprinkles...it makes SUCH a world of difference!! It was like,
Aha!! We HAVE arrived at Mardi Gras! lol

So, there you have it!
Hope you like them!
"Try them, try them! Try them and you may!" lol

And in honor of my little Seussian quote:

This is how A put him together - isn't he cute!? She did so great! lol

This is my little Lorax man I made out of felt....he's coming to school with me and my kids are going to do a little math activity on this felt storyboard frame I made (in the beginning of the year).

I haven't finished the math activity yet - but it's going to be a "Roll A Lorax," but with math extensions....Maybe I'll get that finished tonight.

Today is my LAST official day off work. I go back on Monday. So I've decided to make it a PJ day!! Good thing too, because A is trying NOT to get sick...her head and body feel hot and all she wants to do is lay around and watch t.v...so not like her. Usually we are fighting with her to stay IN the house...lol!

How do I feel about going back on Monday?

I'm really excited! I'm going to miss my baby girls like crazy - especially B since I haven't been away from her yet.  

But I know I'm going to be ok, since I've done this before. And they have a really good babysitter - either their Daddy or my friend if Daddy has to work, so I know they're in good hands.

And since I know I'm going to be ok, it's making it easier on me. Though I'm sure Sunday night will be spent with LOTS of snuggling...with B, not hubs - hehe.