Get Festive and try this recipe For new orleans-style KinG caKe!

Laissez les bons temps rouler! What does that mean? It means “Let the good times roll” because Mardi Gras is here. That’s Fat Tuesday in English. And what exactly is it? It’s the carnival season between Christmas and Lent. Fat Tuesday falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of the 46-day Lent, a period where many give up meat and other indulgences. So Mardi Gras marks the time to celebrate and party because for six weeks there will be no more of that.

New Orleans has many great parades and parties to enjoy, but right here at home in our neck of the Northwest woods of Louisiana, we have a pretty dang good time of our own. So whether you are attending a float-loading party or a grand ball or the parades or maybe a little bit of each, the one sure thing will be plenty of food and drinks.

So I give you a few samples of the many Mardi Gras favorites that many of us enjoy especially this time of year. These recipes can be made to take with you to your events or enjoyed in the comfort of your home. Either way, it’s important to remember to have lots of fun and let loose.

–Chef John Strand