Mardi Gras Made Easy: Recipes, Cocktails, and Decorations

Fat Tuesday is the day everyone outside of New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras. Down in New Orleans and in Mobile, the Mardi Gras party season has been underway for weeks. Fat Tuesday this year is March 8th. Until then, we've got a lot of Mardi Gras food, fun, and maybe even a parade or two to get jammed into the next eight days! So as they say in New Orleans, and in the words of Delbert McClinton, "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" 

Since this is the holiday named for me:) it's my favorite holiday! Seriously, it IS my favorite holiday. I love the food, the culture, the whole thing. If you want to host a Mardi Gras party, it's not too late. Here's everything you need to get your party started:

The Invites

Facebook, email, Evite, or call... anybody would love to get a last minute Mardi Gras invitation!

Decorations

This one is easy. Feathers, masks, beads, green, gold, and purple! You still have time to get a huge box of beads and anything else you need from our friends at Oriental Trading Company. Of course they have beads of every color and price range. Take a look at some of the fun, affordable decorations you can get....Jester Half Mask $3.99 from OTCDeluxe Feather Masks $24.99 per dozen at OTCSequin Masks $9.99 per dozen at OTC   French Quarter Street SIgn $19.99 OTC  Balcony Mural $14.99 from OTC 

Parade crowns $3.49 per dozen 

The Menu

Gumbo. Etouffee. Red Beans and Rice. The food is the very best part of Mardi Gras. Most residents host their parties before a parade. Here are some recipes I love, including my own Super Secret Gumbo recipe.

Classics

Martie's Secret Gumbo: Mine is one of those labors of love that takes most of the day and fills the house with all kinds of delicious aroma. If you are in a hurry, try Terry's Quick Gumbo!

The Dean Bros. Lighter Gumbo: If you want a lighter, healthier Gumbo that's still full of flavor, this one from Paula's boys looks pretty good.

Red Beans and Rice: Here's Emeril's recipe. If anyone has a great Red Beans and Rice recipe, pass it on!

Charlotte's Shrimp Etouffee: I wish I'd developed this recipe, it's that good. My friend Charlotte B. from Auburn, Alabama sent it in. It's fantastic. And believe me, I know my Etouffee. Get the recipe...

Jambalaya: A lighter version made with shrimp, this recipe gets a 5-star rating and a guarantee from the Southern Living test kitchens.

Chef John Besh's Green Onion Sausage & Shrimp Gravy: Serve this classic sauce or "gravy" over biscuits. It's fantastic. Maybe better. Serve with his Grandmother Walters's Biscuits. Heaven.

Three Cheese Grits:I'm re-running this recipe because it is a classic Southern recipe, perfect for a Mardi Gras celebration or brunch. Or try another classic New Orleans dish, Shrimp and Grits!

Muffulettas: Try Emeril's recipe. I simply get a round loaf of bread, slice in half. Pull out some of the bread to make room for the meat. Spread with olive salad. Then stuff with different meats and cheeses. These mini-muffulettas are very good, too.

Desserts

Beignets: You can make these from scratch; Paula Deen has a good recipe for them. I say just order the mix from Cafe DuMonde. Much easier! Some high-end grocers stock it around Mardi Gras. Watch the demo on how to make authentic New Orleans-style beignets from Cafe DuMonde.

Brennan's Bananas Foster: What's more New Orleans? Try this recipe from the famous Brennan's Restaurant.

King's Cake: Order online from one of these New Orleans bakeries if you can't find one at your local store. Gambino's, Randazzo's and Haydel's Bakery all have online shops!

Cocktails and Beverages

Brandy Milk Punch: While I have not yet perfected my own recipe for this classic Southern favorite, this recipe from the fine folks at Epicurious is just dandy for any Mardi Gras celebration. Get the recipe...

Hurricane: Try my recipe. As close to Pat O's as you can get without a flight... and maybe even better because I use fresh juices.

Sazerac: I love Sazerac cocktails. Learn the story behind one of the oldest cocktails dating back to 1858.... quite interesting. Get the recipe from Sazerac.

The Entertainment

Almost anything goes... but if you plan to have a Mardi Gras parade or a  "Second Line" - the parade down the street complete with dancers and umbrellas, well, you might want to check with the neighbors.

Make some playlists with New Orleans jazz, Harry Connick Jr., and Zydeco music like Buckwheat Zydeco is also fun. 

Happy Mardi Gras everyone.... let the good times roll!

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.

NEED BEADS? DON'T FORGET THAT ORIENTAL TRADING COMPANYHAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO THROW A 'NAWLIN'S STYLE MARDI GRAS BASH!

It's Mardi Gras! Or as I prefer to call it---- Martie Gras

 The final days and parades of Mardi Gras are happening in Mobile and New Orleans right now so what are you doing this weekend? Road trip!!! Just kidding. If you're like me and didn't see even one of the nominated movies this year, why not skip the annual Oscar party and invite a few friends over for a Mardi Gras party instead? It's one of the fastest parties to pull together. All you need is gumbo, lots of gold, green and purple decorations and tons of beads. Almost every dollar store or party supply store has Mardi Gras decorations or drag the green and gold tinsel or garland down from the attic, add a little purple, a few beads, some Louis Armstrong on the iPod and you're half way there.

To host your own Mardi Gras party, check out the pics and how-to from our MSN article. 

Want up to the moment coverage and pictures? NOLA.com has photos, videos, schedules, articles plus all the FAQ's you'll need to become an expert on the subject.