It's Mardi Gras Time....the celebration that precedes Lent. Since Lent was a time for fast and abstinence, Mardi Gras, or Carnavale, as it is called in some countries, was the last "feast before the famine" so to speak. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", and it is always the day before Ash Wednesday...so check your calenders or ask a Catholic. :o)

              Mardi Gras season begins on Twelfth Night, January 6th., when the Christmas season ends. Elaborate masquerade balls were the tradition on Twelfth Night, at which the King and Queen of the Mardi Gras were chosen. This was done with "King's Cake". A bean, pebble or trinket, was baked inside the cake. Whoever got the pebble in their slice of cake, would reign as Mardi Gras King!

              New Orleans is famous for it’s Mardi Gras celebration, and that is where our recipes will come from. We’ll even have our own version of King’s Cake, so you can select a Mardi Gras King and Queen for your soiree. Invite your guests to come in costume. You should be able to obtain decorative feathered masks, from your local party store, to hand out to your guests as they arrive. Also, hang some around for decorations. Your party store will also, more than likely have the colored beads, which are a Mardi Gras tradition. Again, hand them out to your guests and use them for decorations. For music, have some Dixieland Jazz on hand, even if it’s only until the party gets going.

              Now…off to the party!

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