Mardi Gras Coming Up On Feb. 21. How Will You Celebrate?

Honestly, I don’t like the word fat. It brings to mind a repulsive picture of an unfit, overweight person, perhaps eating greasy pizza; the grease running down his chin. Yet, I have my fat jeans (I like pizza as much as the next guy), Volkswagon has a fat dog and the Food Channel has a Fat Chef. It’s a word that we use often. OK, perhaps you have a fat wallet. Not such a bad thing.

Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. It’s a day we associate with eating; eating pancakes, no less! Not so terrific for the never-ending diet (I'd like to toss those fat jeans), but it makes sense. Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday; the first day of Lent. Pancakes and other related foods are prepared with sugar, fat and milk, thus Fat Tuesday; the practice of eating richer, fatty foods prior to the ritual of fasting during the Lenten season. Also called Shrove Tuesday, the definition comes from the word “shrive” meaning “confess”.

Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world. In the United States, it is most associated with New Orleans, and we have the LeMoyne brothers to thank for that! Sent by the King of France in the late 17th century, the pair came to defend the French claim on the territory of Louisiane (which now includes Louisana, Mississippi and Alabama). In that part of the country, Mardi Gras is a season, not just one day, complete with Mardi Gras balls and Mardi Gras parades.

For more Mardi Gras tidbits go to:

www.mardigrasday.com or www.mardigrasneworleans.com.

Here's a recipe for Shrove Tuesday pancakes, with lots of eggs and butter, from Epicurious.com