For music, download Crescendo The Mardi Gras Song ©By Andy Bakke © By Grace Soileau
It's that time of the year in South Louisiana, and everybody get's into the act. Why even our Crawfish get into the spirit of things. I think it is just a disguised so we don't eat him.
DATES OF THE EVENTS
MARDI GRAS CELEBRATIONS
MARDI DAY, TUESDAY MARCH 7,2000 Celebrations for Mardi-Gras always starts twelve days after Christmas. Calling it a Feast of the Epiphany, Twelfth Night or King's Day. The Epiphany ends the Christmas season. This is the day that we remember the Three Kings who when to honor the Christ child. The twelfth night also signifies the beginning of Carnival season. The celebration ends on Mardi Gras day (Fat Tuesday) or the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is believe to be a time for Catholics to prepared themselves for Lent. Lent is a time of fasting and prayer in preparation for Easter.
The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. The traditional Rex colors: Purple,representing Justice; Green representing Faith; Gold representing Power. One thing to remember when you are decorating for Mardi-Gras the colors are bright and shinny.
In Ville Platte, Mamou and surrounding areas Cajuns ride on horseback, to the country side for Mardi Gras day. The riders go from house to house to beg for food. There is always a captain picked from the group of riders. The riders stay at the road while the captain rides to the house carrying a white flag. He asks the people of the house if they will accept them. If it is OK, the captain waves his flag and the riders come to the house. They play music and dance for their food. People come from all over to watch the riders start their "Courir de Mardi Gras" (run of mardi gras). They are also there to greet them after their run. They cook a big gumbo with the food that was collected and have a Fai-Do-Do(a dance) that night. It is unique for this area of Louisiana.
STOVE TOP ROUX FOR GUMBO ½ cup high grade oil & 1 1/2 cup flour Put oil into thick iron pot over medium heat. When hot, stir in flour and continue to stir until deep brown color-about 30-45 minutes. Add chopped, 1 large onion & 1 medium bell pepper, saute onion and bell pepper in roux until wilted. Set aside and let cool
CAJUN RICE 1 Pot of Cooked Louisiana Rice Put 5 cups of medium grain rice and 4 3/4 cups of water in pot & cook on a low fire till done. If you use long grain rice you will need to add 5 cups of water.
CHICKEN & SAUSAGE GUMBO Note: Do not use a fryer it cooks too quick 1 young rooster or Hen: cut into serving pieces 1 bunch onion tops, chopped 1 bunch parsley, minced 1 ½ lbs. pure pork country sausage, cut in pieces salt, black pepper, red pepper, 1 can of diced Rotel Put rooster and sausage into a large gumbo pot. Add enough cold water to cover meat add seasoning, Boil for ½ hour. Add one quart cold water to gumbo pot bring to boil, take cold roux mixture and transfer to gumbo pot, stir well. Cook slowly for I to 1½ hours more. Do not cover pot tightly it will boil over. Test rooster with a fork for tenderness. Add more seasoning and water if necessary add the onion tops and parsley and cook for about fifteen minutes longer. Put the gumbo file' bottle on the table and those who wish to add it to their Gumbo may do so. My Grandmother taught me how to make Roux for gumbos and stews, but we are have a place in town that makes Roux. "Carys Roux" makes it and I can buy it in a jar, ready to put in my Gumbo. If my grandmother would know this she would turn over in her grave.
THE KING CAKE Another celebration was the baking of a King Cake. It is believed to have originated in France around the 12 Century. It is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in about 1870. These early Europeans celebrated the coming of the wise men bearing gifts twelve days after Christmas. The main part of the celebration was the baking of King Cakes to honor the three Kings. The cakes were made circular to portray the circular route used by the three kings to get to the Christ Child and confuse King Herod. In the early days a pea or a coin was hidden inside the cake. The person who got the hidden piece was declared king for the day. Today we use a small plastic baby to symbolize the Christ Child. The person who gets the plastic baby is expected to host the next King Cake party.
combine 1st 4 ingredients in a sauce pan, heat till butter melts, stirring. Let cool a little. In large bowl dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water. Let stand 5 minutes. Add the cool butter mixture, beaten eggs & 2 cups of flour.Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes or till smooth. Gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface & knead until smooth (about 10 minutes). Place in a well greased bowl, cover with a greased wax paper & let rise in warm place free from drafts for 1 hour or until doubled in bulk. Combine 1/2 cup of sugar & cinnamon, set aside. Punch dough down & divide in half. Turn one part of dough onto floured surface & roll into a 28 X 10 rectangle. Spread half of the butter & cinnamon mixture on dough. Roll dough like a jelly roll. Do the same with remaining dough. Place dough roll seam side down on well greased baking sheet. Bring rolls together to make oval ring. Cover & let rise in warm place 20 minutes or until doubled in size. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes.
COLORED SUGARS PASTE Green, purple, & yellow paste 12 tablespoons sugar, Squeeze a dot of green paste in palm of hand. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over the paste and rub together quickly. Place this mixture on wax paper, & wash hands to remove color. Repeat process for other 2 colors. Place aside.
ICING 3 cups confectioners sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice 3 to 6 tablespoons water. Combine sugar, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons water until smooth. If icing is too stiff, add more water until spreadable. Spread icing over top of cake. Immediately sprinkle the colored sugars in individual rows consisting of about 2 rows of green, purple and yellow. For filling you can use flavored cream cheese instead of cinnamon. Some use cherries or pineapple. I like the cream cheese. It makes it nice a moist.
For filling you can use flavored cream cheese instead of cinnamon. Some use cherries or pineapple. I like the cream cheese. It makes it nice a moist.
This looks like too much work, here is a link where you can buy a King Cake, learn how to give a Mardi Gras party, buy your beads, get your recipes for your party and learn about New Orleans.