Mardi Gras!

[katharina]

I am wondering about the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans; after Katrina, are they still able to have as large a parade or party? I hope so.

Not for the first year... possibly two. But it's getting back to more like like "the old days" now.

 

[katharina]

A friend of mine tries to talk me into going every single year, and I refuse, every single year.

There's something about all of those people in one area that makes me incredibly nervous.

Precisely why we celebrate here and not in New Orleans. I'd feel that way, too, with all those people in one place... and then all in masks to boot.

 

[katharina]

I'm unfamiliar with a King Cake. What is it like?

It's made in a circle... it's almost like a coffee cake consistency... only there's filling in it. I chose Pecan Praline. THEN there's icing on top... again praline for mine, and six sections of heavy colored sugar on top of the icing. The sugars are in the Mardi Gras colors of green, purple, and yellow.

There's a little golden baby baked into it and the person who gets it gets good luck. I was actually a little surprised that the baby was as small as it was. If someone is a gulper when it comes to pastries and cakes, that would be a choking hazard.

 

[Taggart]

Katharina, that sounds decadent, which I guess is what Mardi Gras is all about.

I love praline ice cream, but I don't think I've had them in a cake like that.

 

[SageMother]

I am wondering about the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans; after Katrina, are they still able to have as large a parade or party? I hope so.

I saw a few clips on TV and the parade looked just as large as it has been in the past. I heard that hotel reservations were down, though. The economy can't be helping tourism anywhere!

 

[heretoday]

Katharina, that King cake sounds scrumptious! Howzabout mailing me a piece?

I'm glad the Mardi Gras in New Orleans is getting back to pre-Katrina form. I'm also not so good in large crowds, so I doubt I'd ever go. It's nice to see the parade on TV though.

 

[katharina]

Katharina, that sounds decadent, which I guess is what Mardi Gras is all about.

Oh it was! Excellent. It was rather huge so I ended up freezing some of it. Now a week later, and frozen, I found out that it's just as good (maybe even better) eating it nice and cold like that before it's thawed the whole way.

 

[katharina]

Katharina, that King cake sounds scrumptious! Howzabout mailing me a piece?

I'm glad the Mardi Gras in New Orleans is getting back to pre-Katrina form. I'm also not so good in large crowds, so I doubt I'd ever go. It's nice to see the parade on TV though.

Hehehe Well you'll need to repeat that request next year I'm afraid, heretoday... the rest of it only stayed in the freezer for a week and now it's but a memory. Granted, a very delicious memory.

 

[katharina]

As to the King Cake, isn't there a little charm baked into the cake? Any idea why they call it King Cake?

There is a good luck piece baked into the cake, yes. It was a little (toooo little!) golden baby from this particular New Orleans bakery. I think I heard that sometimes it's a coin baked in there. I have no idea why it's called King Cake. Maybe 'cause it's "good enough for a king?"

 

[heretoday]

I'll try to get my request in early next year, Katharina!
I think that cakes and especially anything chocolate tastes better frozen, or cold at least. Don't know why it's so...