The famed celebrations of Carnival and Mardi Gras all culminate in one final day of partying before Ash Wednesday arrives: Fat Tuesday. It’s known as the last day of festivities and indulgence before the 40 days of fasting in Lent begin. So this upcoming Tuesday, why not take part in your own piece of Mardi Gras and enjoy a few of these delicious treats?
Pancakes
Traditionally, Fat Tuesday served the purpose of using up all the remaining food items, such as butter and milk, that could not be eaten during Lent – hence why the tradition of baking pancakes began. Sitting down to a heaping stack of fluffy pancakes is the perfect way to start off your day of indulgence.
New Orleans Beignets
Beignets are a New Orleans, Mardi Gras specialty. They are similar to a donut, but without the hole in the middle. Typically deep-fried and covered in powdered sugar, beignets make the perfect breakfast pastry or evening dessert.
Jambalaya
You can’t talk about Mardi Gras and New Orleans without mentioning the city’s famous Jambalaya. For the more adventurous chefs out there, this dish contains a little bit of everything and packs a whole lot of flavor. Variations can be made with duck, chicken, or shrimp, and the dish is always mixed with rice, peppers, and lots of delicious spices.
King Cake
This cinnamon roll-style cake is synonymous with Mardi Gras celebrations. The baker usually places a small trinket inside the cake before baking. Usually the trinket is a small plastic baby to represent Baby Jesus. The person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket inside is granted special privileges for the day.
Photo Sources:
http://eclecticrecipes.com/french-quarter-beignets
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/jambalaya-with-shrimp-andouille-sausage-10000001041904/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/king-cake-recipe2/index.html