Celebrating Mardi Gras

As you know, yesterday was Mardi Gras; the big celebration day prior to the start of Lent.  This year we were invited to join some of our friends for a Mardi Gras dinner.  Of course it was a chance for all of us to prepare genuine New Orleans cuisine since that is the hometown of the American Mardi Gras celebration.

Our hostess Jennifer made jambalaya and gumbo; Melanie, who is from NOLA, brought sauce picante; I tried my hand at building the perfect muffaletta; and Kate prepared pralines.  Of course the evening was not complete without King Cake.

The kids donned their beads, masks and other Mardi Gras party favors and tried their hardest to get the piece of cake with the baby hidden inside.  Thankfully they didn't get it because that would mean that we have to host the dinner next year.

We are blessed to have great friends who never miss an opportunity to have a good time.  Even though it was a "school night" we had a blast and the kids were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning!