Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Happy Mardi Gras Y'all!

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is here! According to Catholic tradition, Fat Tuesday is celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. While most of us today don't eat meat on Fridays throughout Lent, try to give up something and/or try to do something to benefit others on a daily basis, and fast on a handful of days, in the past and in very "orthodox" Catholic families the fasting aspect is much stricter.

Fat Tuesday originated as an opportunity to clear the larder out of tempting indulgent foods and have one last shebang before the solemnity of Lent. Obviously, Mardi Gras has definitely evolved and grown over the years, especially in the town synonimous with Mardi Gras--New Orleans.

We are a little more traditional in my family. Every year for Mardi Gras, Dad makes us a big weekend breakfast spread with the all-important pancakes for dinner. (He is quite the cook...part of the reason Mom married him!) It is simple but delicious and filling which is important because the first day of fasting is tomorrow.

If you would like to make your own breakfast Mardi Gras Dinner you can find all sorts of Brunch recipes here!

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