It's Mardi Gras! Menu and Cocktail Ideas for Your Mardi Gras Party

I love Mardi Gras--- after all, isn't it named after me? Martie Gras? LOL. 

Fat Tuesday, the day most of us celebrate Mardi Gras, is coming up on February 16th so I recently blew down to New Orleans to get some inspiration for Mardi Gras 2010. Let's get down to the most important thing about Mardi Gras--- the food.

I literally ATE my way through the city: Ulglesich's (lunch only) Oyster Po' Boys and their incredible Remoulade. Acme Oyster House in the French Quarter for the amazing Chargrilled Oysters and Red Beans and Rice. Galatoire's on Bourbon Street for everything but especially the Shrimp Remoulade and their famous Bread Pudding with Banana Sauce. Awesome! Click to get their recipes.

Visit our friends at MyRecipes.com to see their collection of Mardi Gras recipes; everything from Shrimp Etouffee to Jambalaya and these great mini-muffulettas.

Now, you know you just cannot go to New Orleans without a trip to Cafe DuMonde for Beignets. You can order their beignet mix online or you can make them from scratch. I have tried both. It doesn't matter which way you go. Just try to use cottonseed oil for frying and transfer them immediately into a brown paper lunch bag with powdered sugar in it once they are done. Give a shake and serve them to guests in the bag! These will be a huge hit!

Along my culinary exploration of New Orleans, I tried Chef John Besh's Restaurant Luke- a French Bistro with New Orleans flair. It was wonderful! Over fabulous shrimp and grits using Alabama's McEwen & Sons Organic Stone Ground Grits,

I had a great chat with bartender, Tomas, who is not only talented but entertaining as well. Tomas mixed a perfect Sazerac Cocktail, the traditional New Orleans drink made with a sugar cube and Herbsaint. Delicious!

Of course, you can't have a Mardi Gras party without a great Hurricane! Here's the famous Pat O'Brien's recipe using their mix or you can try mine:

 Martie's Party Hurricanes 

• 1 1.2 ounces light rum
• 1 1/2 ounces dark rum
• 1 ounce FRESH orange juice
• 1 ounce FRESH lime juice 
• 1/4 cup passion fruit juice (find it in the canned juice or International foods aisles)
• 1 sugar cube (about a teaspoon)
• 1 teaspoon Grenadine
• Maraschino cherries and orange slices
• Ice

In a cocktail shaker, mix the rum, juices and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add Grenadine, and stir to combine, then add ice and shake. Add ice to a Hurricane style glass, strain drink into glass. Add a dash of the cherry juice. Garnish with orange slices and cherries.

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Holiday Cookie Recipes: Kelly's Favorite English Toffee Cookies

I soooo love it when my friends and our readers send me their favorite recipes--- because I know they're going to be really, really good! I get all of the benefit of a great new recipe without all of the work perfecting it. Kelly, my website designer, longtime co-worker, friend, and the busy mother of two beautiful boys, sent me her favorite holiday cookie recipe--- and I just popped my first batch in the oven. Try these for your Christmas Eve party or take a batch to the office. They smell delicious! Can't wait to give them a try!Thanks Kelly!

Kelly's English Toffee Cookies

1 Cup Butter (unsalted) room temperature

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Egg Yolk

2 Cups Flour (all-purpose)

1 Tsp. Vanilla

1 Large Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar (broken into small pieces) for the top

1 Cup Chopped Nuts OR 1/2 Cup Crushed Candy Canes

Kelly's adorable boys, Camden & TuckerDIRECTIONS: Combine butter, brown, sugar, egg yolk, flour, and vanilla in a bowl. Pat into a greased 15x10 jellyroll pan. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Remove and add the chocolate pieces over the top. Return to the oven for a few minutes until chocolate softens. Remove and spread the chocolate over the top. Add chopped nuts or the crushed candy cane for garnish. Place in the refrigerator for an hour. Cut into 1.5 inch squares.

                                      HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Need more recipes? Here are some good, tried and true recipes for your holiday get-togethers!

COCKTAILS

Hot Apple Pie Toddy                    Hot Buttered Rum  

Oatmeal Cookie Martini               Pralines & Cream Martini 

OTHER EASY FAVORITES:

Endive Leaves with Herbed Goat Cheese

Tipsy Tomatoes, Mini BLT's, and Caprese Kabobs

Pickled Citrus Shrimp

Butternut Squash Soup

Apple Tart with Pomegranate Carmel Sauce 

Party Quick Fix: A Cheese Board--- Yum!

Still need a few ideas for your holiday get-togethers? A cheese board is fast and easy--- and who doesn't love cheese? Some cheeses are not cheap--- in fact, some are completely outrageous but sooo worth the expense. Get several large blocks of cheese for a cheese board or get 6-10 smaller blocks for a cheese tasting. For a tasting, label each cheese so guests can identify their favorite.

A a large cutting board works well for a cheese board---or a marble pastry slab, if you happen to have one. Add baskets of baguettes and different types of crackers or breadsticks and fruit that pairs well with your cheese assortment. Pears, apples, strawberries, cherries, and figs are delicious with cheese and they add color to your presentation as well. Shopping for cheese can be a bit overwhelming so here is a list of some of my favorites!

1. Manchego: Spain. This is my all-time favorite. I have noticed it in lots of stores lately so it must be increasing in popularity. Maybe that’s because I have served Manchego at every party, picnic, or tailgate I have hosted since my first trip to Spain in 1997. Get the Manchego that has been aged for twelve months. It is worth the price difference.
2. Saint Andre: France This soft, smooth triple cream cow’s milk cheese is on every single cheese board I present, also. It is almost like brie but the taste is smooth and creamy. Delicious when served with a fresh baguette and pear or apple slices, this one is really a crowd pleaser--- my friend Debbie absolutely loves it!
3. Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog: California A soft, ripened goat’s milk cheese that pairs well with honey and pears or wild mushrooms and earthy flavors.  
4. Valdeon: Spain An award winner for Spain’s best blue cheese, the distinctive sycamore leaf wrapping makes this cow and goat’s milk blue stand out in a crowd. It is a less intense blue cheese, perfect for a cheese board and paired with smoked or cured meats.
5. Quickes Farm Traditional Cheddar: England This is everything a good cheddar should be. The rich sharp flavor has a slightly spicy undertone. Everyone will ask about this one.
6. Amsterdam Reserve Gouda: Holland Gouda is a familiar favorite but this young cow’s milk variety is very creamy with a hint of honey and butterscotch.  
7. Cypress Grove Midnight Moon Goat Cheese: California Firm, dense, and smooth, this pale ivory cheese is a perfect compliment to cured meats and fruit.
8. Amadeus: Austria Buttery soft with a Havarti-like taste that is best paired with something sweet like figs or roasted meats like turkey and chicken.
9. Brillat Savarin: France Rich and buttery with a sweet but tangy taste, this triple cream brie is best served with grapes, apples, and pears.
10. Parmigiano Reggiano: Italy It is impossible to have a top ten list without this one. Most people think it is just for cooking or best grated over pasta, but it is wonderful alone or with crusty bread, dipped in good balsamic vinegar, and with olives. It has a complex nutty flavor and dense, slightly grainy texture.
11. Belle Chevre: Elkmont, Alabama This cheese should have been in my Top 10 and it's only because you can't find it everywhere that it isn't higher on the list--- but you can have it shipped almost anywhere. If you like goat cheese, this will be a favorite. Their marinated goat cheese made the Real Simple list of top gifts under $50. Try it!

Update on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 12:05PM by Martie Duncan

We were invited to participate in a segment yesterday on ABC 33/40's Talk of Alabama in Birmingham with Tasia from Belle Chevre on putting together a cheese board for easy holiday entertaining. A cheese board is one of those things you can just whip up fast when guests just show up. Yesterday we used Greek Kiss from Belle Chevre from Elkmont, Alabama, Piedmont from Wright Dairy, and a delicious triple cream Mt. Tam from Cowgirl Creamery. Add these to your list to try!

Holiday Cocktail Recipes: Hot Apple Pie Toddy

Woo---baby it's cold outside! So, a big winter storm dumped a foot of snow on your holiday party planned for tonight? No worries-- here's a great holiday cocktail to keep you warm. Perfect for caroling parties or a cozy night by the fire wrapping gifts!

Martie's Hot Apple Pie Toddy

For 1 large mug:

2 ounces Tuaca Liqueur

6 ounces apple cider (I prefer Martinelli's Apple Cider- found at most grocery stores)

A little fresh ground nutmeg for garnish

Whipped cream

Cinnamon sticks

Warm apple cider in a saucepan over low heat. This next part is really important! Remove from heat (and open flames) and add Tuaca. Pour into a large mug, add a big dollop of whipped cream, a little fresh nutmeg, and a cinnamon stick- tastes just like mom's apple pie!

Holiday Cocktails: Hot Buttered Rum

It's getting cold around the country--- snow in California and record snow in the Midwest! It seems like everyone could use a good toddy recipe to warm you up fast on a freezing night. I was introduced to Hot Buttered Rum après ski in Beaver Creek a few years ago and loved it! This cocktail recipe is perfect for the holidays because you can make a large batch in advance and keep the mixture in the freezer until you're ready to use it. This recipe is really rich-- almost dessert-ish but soooo yummy. Try it and let me know!

Hot Buttered Rum

Cream together: 

1 pound unsalted butter -softened

1 pound Confectioner's sugar

1 pound brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Pinch ground cloves

Pinch of salt

1 quart good quality vanilla ice cream -- at room temperature

Put in your freezer until firm or you're ready to use. To make a mug:

Place 1.5 ounces good quality dark rum (I like Appleton Estates) in your mug along with two generous tablespoons of the mix-- or more if you have a big mug. Fill the mug with boiling water. Top with a little fresh grated nutmeg-- just a little. 

Want more holiday cocktail recipes?

Pralines & Cream Martini

Oatmeal Cookie Martini