Today I wanted to share a quick dinner menu for tonight. I grew up with the tradition of observing the day before Ash Wednesday as Shrove Tuesday, and we always went to a pancake supper at our church. Some years we would make pancakes or crepes at home (read more about Shrove Tuesday here).
In recent years we’ve pressed my husband into service on this day to make his amazing gumbo recipe as a nod to Mardi Gras (Brontë is pictured above already wearing her beads). Since it takes awhile to make a perfect gumbo, he actually cooked yesterday and our dutch oven full of cajun goodness is waiting in the refrigerator to be rewarmed and served over rice tonight.
Mardi Gras Menu
- Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo (recipe here); my husband uses this recipe for an easy oven roux and freezes the second cup if he’s not doubling the gumbo recipe. He also uses cajun seasoning instead of mixing up the “rustic rub” mentioned in the recipe. Serve over white rice.
- Beer (look for Abita if you want a New Orleans brand). Just FYI, I’m contemplating giving up alcohol for Lent which seems like quite a sacrifice during lockdown…but I guess the whole point is sacrifice! Giving up social media, which I’m also doing, seems more like a gift to myself than a sacrifice.
- King Cake (you can buy one at almost any supermarket or bakery, or try your hand at making your own with this recipe or this mix).
If you need something faster and easier, Amanda at Dixie Delights shared her jambalaya recipe that you can make in an instant pot. Or, try this premade jambalaya mix.
Here in Germany, Karneval season is also called Fasching, but sadly it’s all been canceled this year. So we’ll celebrate on our own and look forward to new traditions next year.
That’s it! Or, of course, you can always whip up a yummy batch of pancakes instead. Either way, I hope you have a wonderful Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday. And if you’ve decided what you’re giving up, let me know in the comments below.
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