I'm not French, I'm not from New Orleans and I've never been to Bourbon Street, but that's not going to stop me from celebrating Mardi Gras today.
Since I've got a capital "B", capital "G", Big Girl job where they actually expect me to show up and function like a human being tomorrow, I can't celebrate by adorning myself in beads and drinking 12 hurricanes. {seven years later and I still can't believe I'm not in college anymore. sad face.} So, I figured I'd go for the next best thing - food. Though I never need a reason to make a special meal & stuff my face, I do love when one comes around.
I thought about what to make in honor of Mardi Gras and a few thoughts crossed my mind - King Cake, beignets, gumbo - but those were all quickly dismissed. I only realized that Mardi Gras was today, well, yesterday and King Cake and beignets require yeast {scary!} and time to rise. Since my husband has yet to agree to let me quit my job and stay home to play in the kitchen all day, I just don't have time for that risin' business. At least not on a weekday. The problem with gumbo - it requires the perfect roux. Yikes! I've made roux plenty of times for mac n cheese and other cream sauces, but never for gumbo. The potential for disaster was too high.
I was stumped. Then it hit me - BAM!* Mr. NOLA himself will have the answer. Emeril to the rescue! I found an awesome Emeril recipe on foodnetwork.com for Jambalaya Pasta & I was sold. The Mister and I will be feasting on this for dinner:
I'll be making a few changes to lighten up the recipe, because this girl is Bahamas bound in less than a month. Bathing suit + heavy cream - not on your life. I've read that evaporated skim milk is an acceptable substitute for heavy cream - anyone have any experience with this? Becky, Jessica - I'm talking to you! Let me know if I'm headed for disaster...
Hope it works out because if not, we'll probably end up having hurricanes for dinner.
Anyone else ouside the French Quarter celebrating Mardi Gras today?
*I know, I know. I couldn't help myself.
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14 comments:
Next door neighbor in our office just came over with hot fresh beignets. Holy yummy. I have had 2 probably not stopping there.
I've had the beignets in NOLA before...AMAZING!
sounds good!!! yum! hubs is content eating leftover bbq chicken from last night, so i'll be having multigrain cheerios. :) my idea of a perfect supper ... haha! happy mardi gras!
I have two healthy alternative ideas for you!
1) The entire recipe calls for 1/2 C. heavy cream... you could just use 1/4 C. and get the same taste! or...
2) You could substitute by using 2% milk!
Good luck & let us know how it turns out!!
Let us know how it turns out, I love Jambalaya and (Bahamas bound or not) I'd like to steer clear of the heavy cream if I could.
Looks delicious!!! And I feel the same way about college - I can't understand not going out drinking on school nights yet!! Good luck!
I think this is a perfect way to celebrate Fat Tuesday. I am going to have a cajun dinner with my family (also not of French / New Orleanian descent) just cuz. And also plan to hand them copious amounts of beads, bc wtf am I supposed to do with them now?, and I really hope no one flashes me
/tangent
The only time I ever actually celebrated Mardi Gras was when I lived in Florida, ha! We would go to that bar called "Fat Tuesdays." At least I think that was the name of it...
You can totally use evaporated milk! I use it every time a recipe calls for heavy cream! Hope it turns out as delicious as it sounds! I love Emeril! :-)
That pasta looks AMAZING!!!!! I can't wait to see how it turns out! Oh and yes, Leigh and I are real life friends. We have been for about 9 years. She is the reason I started blogging :) Have a great day girl!
Let us know how that pasta turns out. Looks great!
Yum! That sounds delish!!
This looks so good! How did it come out?
Are you going to the Bahamas for your Anniversary?? I have been reminding hubs my birthday is coming up and I know your wedding anni is the same day! You must post about it:)
This looks so good! How did it come out?
Are you going to the Bahamas for your Anniversary?? I have been reminding hubs my birthday is coming up and I know your wedding anni is the same day! You must post about it:)
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