A Mardi Gras Feast and Lent Resolutions

Originally I wanted to throw a big Mardi Gras party with friends and family and I'm SO glad I didn't. Abby and Nate lovingly passed on their colds to me and I'm currently in the midst of runny noses and stuffy heads. Instead of a big blow-out we ended up having a quiet dinner with just the three of us. I did try to make it a little bit of a special day, though. For dinner we had red beans and rice (a family favorite), broccoli with cheese sauce, and cornbread. I tried to be a little 'New Orleans' in my food choices and, with some stretching of the imagination, I think I succeeded in that. For dessert I made a King Cake. Or at least what All Recipes considers a King Cake as I've never had or seen one before. :-) If a King Cake tastes like a modified cinnamon roll then I did okay.

Our yummy dinner for your viewing pleasure.

My King Cake! (Actually 1 of 2 since I didn't realize the recipe was having me make two cakes until half-way though the recipe. :-))

As for part two of this post my Lent resolutions this year are pretty simple. I'm giving up Pop (as I'm drinking  way, way too much of it right now and it's become my emotional crutch) and doing dinner every night except for night's that Nate asks to go out. No take-out, dine-in, or fast-food. If I can make tonight's dinner with as yucky as I'm feeling then I really can't cop out of making dinner on a night where I just don't "feel it". This was actually Nate's request when we were talking about Lenten resolutions so I figure it counts as my 'doing' resolution. Nate doesn't do Lent and Abby's too little (beyond Lent age-appropriate crafts/activities) so it's me holding the Lenten resolution torch this year!

And just because I feel like spreading the yumminess,  here's our Red Beans and Rice recipe (originally from Nate's Mom):

Red Beans and Rice

1. Chop one large onion; brown in pan over medium to medium-low heat, stirring often until caramelized, approximately 30 minutes.
2. Slice one medium Italian Sausage Link into small segments; add to onions and cook for 30 minutes.
3. Add: 
• 1 can kidney beans with juice
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon horseradish
4. Cook on a low simmer for one hour
5. Serve with rice

We typically cook up a quadruple batch (a double-batch is pictured) as it freezes really well and we always eat more than one serving at a time. Enjoy!