Tasty Tuesday ~~ It Ain't Called FAT TUESDAY for Nothing!

Cool mask artwork by my twin Alaine, hunh? (She's @Canvas on the Rocks on Facebook if you want to see some artisitc magic.) :) 

And if you need a good "taste" of MARDI GRAS in the Big Easy, read below:

Chef John Besh goes over some traditional Mardi Gras dishes (such as Jambalaya) and traditions, and even brings us to his hometown's yearly parade via live cams. Zatarain's has even spiced up their Facebook page to continue the fun with videos from the parade, recipes, Carnival music and a new app to jazz up your profile picture. All at THIS LINK, brought to you by hometown favorite -- Zatarain's!

PS. Friend Zatarain's on Facebook HERE for essential Mardi Gras recipes and more, and be sure to follow Zatarain’s on Twitter (@MyZatarains) to let the good times roll (Laissez les bon temps rouller)!!!

Mardi Gras Mambo & a Blog Contest Giveaway!

Fat Tuesday's right around the corner, so it's time to don your masks and costumes and let the good times roll!

In honor of our world famous carnival, I'm having a new blog contest. The details will be "unmasked" Wednesday, giving all us carnival goers a chance to recover from parading and partying first. I'm sure New Orleans will be hosting the biggest Mardi Gras celebration ever on the heels of the Super Bowl win with Drew Brees reigning as king of Bacchus. I'll be staying local here in the Red Stick (Baton Rouge) to enjoy the festivities this year, but have one kidlet in Sin City {Be careful and behave son!}, one in Austin visiting family, and the other here at home enjoying a few days off school.

So.........what's all the fuss about the day represented by all the gaudy purple, green & gold? For background, check out the History.com site. And if you wanna see for yourself what it's like to be in the middle of the action, tune in tomorrow to NOLA.com's parade route streaming webcam!  

As Louisianians love to share all our greatest treasures with the rest of the world, how 'bout considering your own Mardi Gras party? Zatarain's [zat-uh-ran's - one of our beloved local and flavorful food lines] is reaching out beyond New Orleans for this year's party. They are asking the world to join in, as they hold the world's largest Mardi Gras party from Maine to Peru.

Back tomorrow with a Tasty Tuesday recipe I think you'll enjoy, and then on Wednesday for a new contest and super secret guest appearance. Until then, I wish you could each have a piece of King's cake!

Throw Me Somethin', Mista!

See me down in the bottom right corner of the photo, begging the Krewe members for some Mardi Gras beads?

Okay, it's not really me...but I am soliciting writing resources from y'all today, so if you know of a cool blog or website full of good nuggets, how 'bout throwin' 'em into a comment for the rest of us revelers?

As always, 'preciate ya, and have a great Wednesday. Would love to hear an update on your WIP progress too!

*Photo from kreweofbacchus.org

Happy Mardi Gras! and a Recipe

Hope your Fat Tuesday is a great one! And if you participate in the 40 days of deprivation or cutting back that is the Lenten Journey which follows today's celebration, may it bring you wisdom, grace and awareness.

Since Tuesdays are recipe days, here's a little something different for my good blogging pals~~

Recipe for Happiness

3 cups of fun

1 cup of kind words

2 1/2 cups C&U (compassion & understanding)

3 Tbsp. each thyme/time & sage (advice)

1 heaping scoop of generosity

As much humor as mixing bowl can hold

Measure out fun willy nilly and spontaneously, adding in kind words slowly as you mix. Add all other ingredients, and liberally season with your favorite spices of life (adventure, spontaneity, laughter, etc.) Mix well.

Pour into cake pan and cook until well done, keeping temperature low enough that it doesn't boil over. When set, sprinkle on a thick layer of hugs and kisses. Cut, serve and enjoy. Recipe feeds as many people as are available to share with love. And remember, happiness is a choice!

(c) 2009 Angie Ledbetter

{Images from photobucket.com}

Ug...Monday

Didn't wanna get out of bed this morning. 'Specially didn't wanna go clean the puppy's room. Don't wanna face the week. Feel like the subject of this fantastic painting. Wish I was on some tropical beach alone without a care in the world.

Am I strange? Never mind, don't answer that -- I know I am, but do you share the same sentiments about Mondays sometimes? I think I'm just tired to the bone. But this too shall pass. I'm grateful to be alive and well and here to greet another day...even if it is a Monday. And even if I do have to take the second sick teenager to the doctor today. The upper respiratory funk is going around like wildfire, closing some schools and offices. Double ug.

You only have til midnight tomorrow to cast your vote on how many beads are in the stack of Mardi Gras strands pictured for a chance to win a delicious King Cake. {Original post here, under the lasagna recipe.}

I'll be talking about the traditions of Mardi Gras in the next few days, so stay tuned. Do any of you non-Louisiana folks know the catch phrase for parade day? Someone will put it in a comment, I'm sure. :)

Ever check your stat counter data? Fun info. awaits if you can decipher it! Some of the search phrases visitors plugged into an engine and then stumbled into Gumbo Writer last week made me smile:

• right brain left brain
• what i gonna be when i grow up
• poop poetry
• nest duck gumbo recipes
• how to calm myself before going to the dentist
• redneck time out

Hope all of you out there in BlogLand are doing swell and finding opportunities to let your talents shine (for they are many), and that your own Monday is any color but blue.

My mom has another MRI scheduled tomorrow, so all prayers lobbed would be greatly appreciated, as the progress of her glio blastoma is checked. For those blessedly unfamiliar with this mysterious brain tumor disease, it's the same kind Ted Kennedy has.

"See ya" again tomorrow. Now, I'm comin' to visit YOU.

{Image from photobucket.com}

Meatless Lasagna & Mardi Gras Contest

Before we get to the vittles, I'd like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM! I wish she was well enough to be online like she used to love to be, but let's send up good thoughts and prayers for her special day.

Now here's a recipe for my vegetarian friends in the form of something yummiciously Italian (per Colby's request). It comes from my lady neighbor friend Vera, who wrote her own family tradition cookbook, one of which sits proudly on my cookbook shelf. I've had several cooking lessons at Vera's, and I can promise you this is the real deal. (Some of the best food I've ever had.) So, let's git to it!

Vera's Meatless Lasagna

1 lb. lasagna noodles

1 lb. Fat Free Ricotta cheese

8 oz. Mozzarella cheese

1 qt. of your favorite spaghetti sauce (in a jar is fine)

Grated Romano cheese to taste

1 beaten egg

parsley, garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste

dash of nutmeg

To Ricotta, add egg, salt, garlic, pepper, parsley and nutmeg. Mix well and set aside. Boil noodles until tender, but do not overcook.

In a large pan, layer as follows: tomato sauce, noodles, Ricotta mix, Mozzarella, Romano and more sauce. Layer until you have the pan full, then top with more Mozzarella and sauce.

Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lasagna is heated through and cheese is melted and blended together.

NOTE: You may add cooked hamburger or sausage if desired. If you want to keep it meatless, you can also add cooked chopped spinach as well.

***********************

Now, for the First Annual Gumbo Writer's Mardi Gras Contest~~

The rules are simple. The contest will run for one week, from now until midnight, February 17.

If you want this ---> -- then leave a comment with your guess on how many individual beads (not strands) are in this picture --->

Winner will need a street address for delivery, and will choose from these flavors for their very own King Cake: Cinnamon - Strawberry - Cream Cheese - Blueberry Lemon - Pecan Praline - Apple - Raspberry.

Laissez les bon temps roulez!!!!! (Let the good times roll!)

Let's Make a Virtual Gumbo

Before spring arrives here in the deep south, let's put some ingredients together and make a gumbo! As the purpose of a true gumbo is to feed lots of people using items on hand or easily obtained, I'd love for you to donate items to the pot! They don't have to be edible either. Who couldn't do with a little more kindness or tolerance?

Whut? Hunh? I hear you asking those questions with your eyebrows all squinched together like I'm nuts. Just leave a comment with a suggested item (edible or not), and if I can't use it to make a delicious cyber gumbo for us all to share, then I'll suggest a side dish for your ingredient.

Don't be shy...there's no right or wrong thing to give to the cook! (See that huge sugar kettle turned gumbo pot in the photo? It's bigger than my butt...and that's saying something! So we have lots of room and plenty of time to let it simmer and stew. Then we'll pass out the gumbo bowls, add a little rice and have a durned good meal we all helped make. Sorta like a Cajun "rock soup."

For dessert, we'll have King Cake Mardi Gras is coming up on the 24th! Hmmm, I just might have to organize a little blog contest so I can send the lucky winner a real live King Cake of their very own. [More on that later.]

So, what're you contributing to our gumbo?