Today is Fat Tuesday – the last day of Mardi Gras before Ash Wednesday kicks off the Lenten season. We had a King Cake at work today and I couldn’t believe that several of my co-workers had never heard of it before.
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King Cake basically tastes like a giant cinnamon roll with frosting. There is a tiny plastic baby baked into the cake. Whoever gets the baby in their slice of cake is king or queen for the day and gets the honor of bringing the cake the next year. When I was growing up we had a family member who lived in New Orleans and she sent a King Cake every year during Mardi Gras.
Has anyone else heard of King Cake? Am I the only one who enjoyed some today!?
I love cooking themed meals so I planned a fun Cajun dinner tonight.
I came straight home from work and got busy in the kitchen making red beans and rice. Brandon poured me a beer from our Olde Meckenburg growler while I cooked. I’ve wanted to make this recipe for red beans and rice since Josie blogged about it back in December.
If you would like to see a pretty picture and get the recipe, please visit Josie’s blog. My photo was not good but the dinner tasted delicious! I forgot to top the dish with green onions and I think it would have helped with the color.
We had French bread on the side and then I had my first Cadbury Egg of the season. I have a slight obsession with those them and it was everything I hoped it would be and more! YUM. I’m glad they only come around once a year! 😉
Let’s move in reverse through the day. I picked up lunch from the Earth Fare salad bar after a lunch appointment.
Fresh fruit, mock chicken salad and baby spinach topped with all kinds of fun things. I had a cranberry Kombucha on the side.
And I had breakfast this morning at my desk after an ashtanga practice.
First, my ashtanga practice was wonderful this morning. I’ve been focusing on ashtanga since I started teacher training and it just feels right for my body. It was good to get back to ashtanga after practicing other styles of yoga for the past few days.
Second, here’s what went into the overnight oats: Bob’s Red Mill Muesli, plain Greek yogurt, almond milk, cinnamon, banana and chia seeds. Topped with almond butter, strawberries and Crofter’s.
So the Mardi Gras season is coming to an end tomorrow. Is anyone giving anything up for Lent? I am not but I do have a bit of a challenge for myself planned over the coming weeks. Details later this week! 🙂
I actually made a Mardi Gras inspired recipe tonight — Jambalaya w/ chicken, shrimp and turkey sausage. It was delicious and now I’m wondering why I’ve never made it before! I love bold cajun spices!
My husband and I are giving up SWEETS for Lent — sweets are defined as ANY dessert. Have we lost our minds? Perhaps — but my belly is remembering a delicious ice cream sundae from tonight!
Yum! Jambalaya is my “go to” Cajun dinner. I love making it at home!
You are not crazy for giving up sweets. It will be easier since your husband is doing it with you. I am actually going to give up sweets (along with a few other things) for the next couple of weeks of yoga teacher training so I will be suffering with you! I’m a total sugar addict!
I soooo wish we had an Earth Fare in lower Alabama – so jealous when I see all your delicious salad leafers / foods from there!
P.S. – thanks for the Veggie Table add 🙂
You are so welcome!
I am obsessed with the Earth Fare salad bar. So delicious. We are getting a Whole Foods soon and I can’t wait! It’s my all-time favorite!
I’ve never had a King Cake! Or even really heard of one… Looks cool!
Never heard of King Cake but it sounds delicious!
Cadbury chocolate is really popular in Ontario. You can get the eggs all year round!
It’s a good thing I don’t live in Ontario then! 😉
I had a friend in school who was from Louisiana so we would have King Cake every year at her house. 🙂 It was goooood.
I don’t know if I’m giving anything up for lent, but I really want to get into better habits during my half marathon training.
Alaina – I am also looking to “clean up” my diet a bit for the next couple weeks of teacher training. I’m going to be posting about it tonight. I’m interested to see how it impacts my practice.
Can’t wait to hear what you decide to do!
We pretty much only get Cadbury’s over here in the UK!! I couldn’t believe it when I was in the US and there was hardly any! 😛
King Cake looks AMAZING!! In Britain, we have ‘Pancake Day’ instead of Fat Tuesday! It is one of my fave days of the year, and I had panacakes with every meal…it was awesome!! 😀
Mmm…pancakes… 😛
I’ve never had King Cake or beignets and I definitely feel like I am missing out! That cake looks delicious!
My favorite candy of all time are the Cadbury mini eggs. I get so excited when I start seeing them in the stores!
You’re not really missing out on the King Cake – kind of like a big, dry cinnamon roll but beingnets – OH MY! You must try some if you are ever anywhere that serves them. They are amazing!!!