FAT TUESDAY FEAST 2011

Here are a TON of photos from my "Fat Tuesday Feast" on Tuesday evening. Let the good times roll...Cajun style!

The invitation set the tone for the event...
My guests were greeted at the door with my Mardi Gras wreath...a little chic and somewhat tacky!

Big time "Merlot Hour" y'all! Here I am modeling the latest addition to my couture apron collection...in the fleur de lis pattern. I skipped the pearls and wore my fleur de lis beads--a gift from my Mississipi friends Kevin and Brett!

Mlle. Coco Chanel loves a good party and of course is dressed for the occasion!

The menu for the feast...

The dining table set for the adults.

The centerpiece is also a little chic and somewhat tacky. I use this fleur de lis pewter bucket for a lot of things...mainly champagne and wine, but also for small Christmas trees and arrangements. Love it!

The placesetting...dinnerware is Fiestaware and the flatware is from World Market. I used serving trays at each setting that I found on Nell Hill's site. Love them!

These serving trays are just fabulous y'all!

Fleur de lis placecard holders that I've had forever...

Harlequin linen napkins adorned with fleur de lis napkin rings...

The sideboard in the dining room was set to serve my "Signature Beverage," Milk Punch. The punch is made with milk, ice cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and nutmeg. Bourbon was added to spike the adults' drinks:-)

A little more tackiness...

Do you not just love my new punchbowl?...with the fleur de lis pattern and matching fleur ladle! My bff Teresa Jane gave this to me for Christmas. It's a must-have for us Southern girls who entertain!

Fleur de lis tassels on the lamps...

The breakfast table was set for the children...

The paper harlequin plates and napkins were purchased at Hobby Lobby. I used plastic flatware to coordinate with the colors and the plastic beverage cups are a festive Mardi Gras pattern.

I used a jar that sometimes holds flour, et cetera to hold my centerpiece.

Stuffed it with black shred...

Added some more Mardi Gras tackiness...

Stuck in these little Mardi Gras party favors...

Voila!!! Easy centerpiece! The children just removed all the favors and got to take them home:)


The beverage cups for the children...

Of course, the children had place cards!

The sideboard in the kitchen was decked out for the night as well!

The lamps were adorned with fleur de lis tassels...more gifts from my bff Teresa Jane!

The King Cake for dessert!

Praline pecans...a New Orleans favorite!

Chicory cafe au lait...

Crowns for the King and Queen...

Appetizer...Toffee Crunch Cheese Cake Ball with Jezebel Sauce! Both of these products are available at my Taste of Gourmet site here.

Louisiana Crab Dip...a big hit!

John Paul is ready to party y'all!!!

Red Beans & Rice with Smoked Sausage...

Mini Muffulettas! LOVE these. I used the famous Boscoli Olive Salad spread and it makes all the difference in the taste of the sandwich--loaded with ham, salami, provolone cheese, & swiss cheese.

Cajun Crab Cakes!

Jazzy Jambalaya! Sausage, Chicken, Shrimp, chopped tomatoes, chicken broth are added to a Creole File Gumbo mix, which is available at my Taste of Gourmet site here.

Bayou Beer Bread...also availabe at my Taste of Gourmet site here.

Get your party favors y'all! I always make sure that my guests leave with a party favor. Here are some from this party and other Mardi Gras parties I've hosted.

The children were allowed to take the favors from the centerpiece...

For my friend Lane, I found this cute little dessert plate with the harlequin design in the center...

I added a box of Southern Praline Pie Mix {another one of my Taste of Gourmet products} and a fleur de lis spreader...

Tied it up with a polka dot ribbon...easy, Southern, and memorable for the occasion!

The Creole File Gumbo Mix makes a cute gift, with a wooden stirring spoon and gingham ribbon...

Recipe card for the Jazzy Jambalaya on the back...

Lane wanted some Mini Muffulettas in her to-go box!

Wrapped it up real cute for her!

Now, it's 1:30 in the morning and I need to close...have to get up for Church this morning!

Thank you for stopping by to visit with me and don't forget to enter my cute giveaway for Lydia and Pugs stationery!

Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler!

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. This is a tablescape that I posted on Tuesday...

Let the Good Times Roll...Cajun-style! Today I'm featuring a tablescape for a Fat Tuesday Celebration. Fat Tuesday is held in New Orleans on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It's called Shrove Tuesday and the name comes from "shriving," or purification through confessing one's sins prior to Lent.

My invitation sets the tone for a festive event...

The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, gold, and green and I chose these colors for the tablescape. It is generally accepted that the purple stands for justice, the gold for power, and the green for faith.

This is an informal, buffet-style setting; it's the easiest way to host this feast of traditional Cajun foods.

Traditional Cajun foods...

Desserts and beverages on the sideboard...
A festive centerpiece...

A lamp adorned...

Another lamp adorned...

Candy on the sideboard...

Menu

Muffulettas...on a Stick

Toffee Crunch Cheese Cake Ball with Jezebel Sauce

Cajun Crab Dip with Crackers

Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage
Mama's Warm Potato Salad

Bayou Beer Bread

King Cake

Beignets

Virgin Mary's
Chicory Coffee

For appetizers, I am serving muffulettas...on a stick, instead of sandwiches. The muffuletta sandwich is a specialty and signature sandwich of New Orleans. This is my version and a much more festive presentation than the sandwich.

I'm also serving additional appetizers of Louisiana Cajun Crab Dip with crackers and a Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball with Jezebel Sauce, with Honey Grahams...a Southern favorite.

The Crab Dip...

The Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball with Jezebel Sauce...So very Southern More traditional New Orleans favorites...Red Beans with Rice and Smoked Sausage.
Some warm homemade potato salad--Mama's Southern style recipe...
Fresh from the oven--Bayou Beer Bread (Not my Mama's recipe)...

In addition to beer, wine, and sodas, I am serving my "signature beverage" of Virgin Bloody Mary's.

Of course, no Fat Tuesday party would be complete without a King Cake. The King Cake is a New Orleans tradition that involves a pastry, a small plastic baby, and a party. The King Cake is baked with the small plastic baby inside; the person who gets the slice with the baby inside has various privileges/obligations--my recipient will have to host the next party. If you ever serve King Cake, be sure to tell your guests to inspect their piece of cake before they begin eating it!

The must-have at any Fat Tuesday party...King Cake!

With the dessert cake I am serving Chicory coffee. Chicory is everyone's favorite coffee in New Orleans and is available at gourmet grocery stores or online at Cafe du Monde. This coffee is made with a mixture of chicory--a flavoring that adds mellowness, body, and aroma to coffee. Add 1/2 of your regular coffee and 1/2 of ground chicory and brew as usual. Chicory flavored coffee may be served plain, or with hot milk.

Chicory coffee...Cafe au lait...

Now, you simply must crown a King and Queen at your party. So, we will be playing a Mardi Gras trivia game and the lady with the most correct answers will be Queen and the gentlemen with the most correct answers will be King!

Are you attending a Fat Tuesday Event? Don't forget to take a gift to the hosts...here's a couple of ideas...

Any host would love to receive these delicious beignets...

Remember that presentation is everything...Make it Memorable.

You can't have beignets without the chicory coffee...it's a tradition in the South. Here's a gift for the host--a can of chicory coffee, wrapped with green shred in cello, a festive ribbon, and a Mardi Gras themed gift tag, pour vous!
Don't forget your party favors y'all! "Throw me something, mister"! The doubloon (coin) is one of the most enduring symbols of Mardi Gras, so I packed each festive cup with candy doubloons and wrapped them in cello and tied it all up with ribbon--a favor for each guest--Making it Southern...Making it Memorable!

I hope that y'all have enjoyed your visit with me today. Thank you for stopping by...I'm off to enjoy some Fat Tuesday fun!