RICHMOND —
It is that time of year for the Mardi Gras time in New Orleans, La. I have attended this festival several times and have such good memories of the foods that are served. I will share with you several recipes that are famous during this time.
Muffuletta sandwiches
Ingredients:
1 round loaf of bread-muffuletta if you can fine it. or use a Italian style loaf,10 inches in diameter.
Olive salad-this can be found in the olive section
2 oz of salami, thinly sliced
2 oz Italian ham, thinly sliced-you may have to use regular ham
2 oz Provolone cheese, thinly sliced
Directions:
Cut bread in half lengthwise and scoop out about half of the soft dough from top to bottom pieces,(this is to provide a place for the sandwich meats)
Layer salami, ham and cheese on the bottom piece. Top with as much olive salad as will fit without spilling out. Add top of loaf and press down slightly.
Slice in quarters and serve. Always serve at room temperature, never toasted.
New Orleans has parades for about half of the week. One time my best friend had me down as she wanted us to be in a parade. She told me she was making my costume. BIG MISTAKE!. She had me lay in a bathtub of green jello to dye my skin green. She made me a green suit and a large tree like head dress to top the entire thing. On the back of the costume she had printed “Kentucky Weed”. Being uneducated as I was I had no idea what Kentucky Weed could mean to others. I just thought I looked like a tree. I found out what type of weed I represented when I was approached by all the party crowd I ran into..Go figure.
The word beignet comes from the Celtic word bigne meaning “to raise”. It is also French for “fritter”. Beignets, a New Orleans specialty, are fried, raised pieces of yeast dough, usually about 2 inches in diameter.
Beignets
Ingredients:
1 cup of lukewarm water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg-room temp and beaten
2 tablespoons soft butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk
4 cups of bread flour or all purpose flour
3 teaspoons instant dry yeast
Vegetable oil for deep frying
Powered confectioner’s sugar for dusting
Directions:
Using a mixer with a dough hook or you can use you bread machine, place water, sugar, salt, egg butter, evaporated milk, flour and yeast in the bowl. Beat until smooth. Remove the dough from bowl and turn out onto a lightly-oiled surface. Form dough into an oval, , place in a lightly-greased bowl. cover and refrigerate until well chilled. About 3 to 4 hours.
Making the beignets: Remove from the refrigerate, roll out on a lightly floured board to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut dough into 3 inch squares, triangles, or circles (your choice);set aside. Heat the oil to 360 degrees and slide the dough pieces into the hot oil. Turning once till brown. Drain on a paper towel and while hot, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
I had always wanted to go to Jimmy Buffet’s cafe so I went one year with a bunch of friends (I thought were) from Texas and New Orleans. Somehow I wound up having one of those long neck ice teas that I thought was a bargain as I could keep the glass. I thought it was just plain iced tea. After three of them I do not remember these so called friends getting my head shaved with my telephone number on the side of my head. I think they call the drink “long Island drink”. I still have the glasses and of course the friends.
New Orleans Pecan Pralines:
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups firmly-packed brown sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
2 cups pecan halves
Directions:
In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, brown sugar, and evaporated milk: cook, stirring constantly until the candy thermometer reaches 236 degrees F. or when a small amount of sugar mixture dropped into a very cold water separates into a hard but not brittle threads. Immediately remove thermometer and remove sugar mixture from heat. Set saucepan in a large pan of cold water to cool. Butter a large sheet of wax paper; set aside. When sugar mixture has almost cooled, beat with a spoon 1 minute until it begins to lose it gloss. Stir in pecan halves and drop by tablespoons onto prepared waxed paper. Makes 36 small or 20 large pralines
If you really want to get the full Mari Gras experience, Blue Grass Catering will be serving a full meal of all the food items you can imagine on Fat Tuesday (Feb 12th) at the Red Mile in Lexington for lunch and dinner. Their email is info@bayoubluegrass.com or call 859-233-0814 for reservations. I went last year and enjoyed foods that were served.
Happy Mari Gras week until next time at my table.
Arritta Morris is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in Nutrition and a Masters degree in Counseling. She is certified as a Food Service Specialist with the School Nutrition Association.
Lifestyles & Community
Related Photos
-
Arritta Morris
Mardi Gras Time in Kentucky
- Lifestyles & Community
-
-
Father/Daughter Dance is June 14 at RAAC
Dads and daughters will take to the dance floor Friday, June 14, for the second annual Father/Daughter Dance to benefit the Hope’s Wings Domestic Violence Program.
The ball will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Richmond Area Arts Center, 399 W. Water St. -
Disease, thieves were all part of life on the farm
Wm. Hensley and Nora Whitaker moved to Maple Grove Road when their daughter, Zona, was 5 years old. They raised hogs, turkeys, chickens and tobacco on their farm.
Zona grew up and married Wm. Mack Ross. And they were blessed with two daughters, Edith Mae and Etta Marie.
In 1918, a flu epidemic came across the land, and Mack took sick and died leaving, Zona with the two young girls to raise. They moved from Paige Hill to Maple Grove to live with Hensley and Nora, her parents. -
Rain, hot weather will make lawns, gardens grow
Hello from Baldwin:
How is everyone's week going? I hope everyone is having a great one.
We finally got some hot and dry weather, then some storms and more rain. That will make the your yards and gardens grow. -
Freedom Rally June 1 in front of the courthouse
Observance of Memorial Day began after the Civil War, but the poet Joyce Kilmer wrote these lines as he served in another great conflict, World War I. His words were more than poetic, they were just and honorable. Kilmer is best known for writing “I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree.” He was killed in the Second Battle of the Marne.
-
Bookmobile coming to Union City this summer
Union City Day was Saturday. The threat of rain discouraged some yard sale participation but overall it was a good day. Fundraising activities by the club raised more than expenses, so that is good news.
-
My heart is crying for Oklahoma
Hello readers, what a wonderfully blessed day we are having here in Paint Lick, Ky.
Not much is happening this Tuesday morning other than most are now aware with the storms headed our way. The weather people say it should smooth out some before it gets to our area, but it’s always smart to be prepared. -
Clothing Closet open this Saturday
Hello everyone. This weekend will be a little less busy with events at the churches and the community center, however we still have the Clothing Closet open this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. They want to see people in need stop by. That is their goal to help others.
Susie will not be having their fish fry till May 31. This weekend is Memorial Day weekend. So mark your calendar for next Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Enjoy your family this weekend. -
Veterans News
The Madison County Veterans invite the veterans and citizens of Madison County to join us in paying respects to our service men and women (past and present) starting at 10 a.m. Monday at the back gate of the Richmond Cemetery, followed by Madison Memorial Gardens at noon. Guest speaker at this year's memorial event will be U.S. Rep. Andy Barr.
Flags will be placed for our service men/women starting Saturday at 8 a.m. at Madison Memorial Gardens and starting at the back gate of Richmond Cemetery. All volunteers are welcome. A special thank you to Memorial Gardens for the gracious donation of flags to be placed at Richmond Cemetery. -
Gone in the blink of an eye
Hi!
One more day of school — yippee!! It sure has felt like summer the past few days, hasn't it? I hope our showers/ storms predicted for today aren’t in the severe category. The folks in Oklahoma have had a tough time of it lately (our prayers are certainly with them).
Can you believe this is Memorial Day weekend? Where did the month of May go -- it was here and gone in the blink of an eye it seems.
Representatives of the Flatwoods Cemetery Association Inc. will be set up at the entrance to the cemetery with ballots for upcoming Board of Directors. Just stop by, mark your ballot and drop same in the ballot box and we'll let you know the names of the 2013-2014 Board members. -
Try these ‘crocking good’ foods
Crock pots are amazing. A crock pot is worth purchasing if you are like myself always on the go.
You can make anything in it, from desserts to breakfast foods, not just stews and soups. The other side of using one is PATIENCE, and a time for preplanning. If you use your time wisely, your crock pot will make your meal planning easier. - More Lifestyles & Community Headlines
-
Father/Daughter Dance is June 14 at RAAC
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
