It's Mardi Gras Time!  Do you have your recipes ready?

Introducing Karen Mitchell-Wilcher's new column -
Rising to the Occasion: Tips for Seasoning Your Meals with Soul
with Karen Mitchell-Wilcher

Sample Flavors of the Gulf Coast
Hurricanes in 2005 focused attention on the Gulf coast and made us think about some of the cultural characteristics of this rich area that we’ve taken for granted. We naively assumed that they would always be around. Sweet and sticky sugar-based treats of Louisiana, succulent seafood and the festive revelry of Mardi Gras.

Recipe: Shrimp Creole

Praline Cream Cheese Muffins

Read more about our new food editor, Karen Mitchell-Wilcher -read more...

Entertain with Chef Eddie and dish up some Hoppin' John  to celebrate Mardi Gras

I use this dish during Madi Gras as a substitute for Red Beans and Rice in vegetarian meals. The original recipe calls for salt pork in the cooking of the black eyed peas, but I use aromatic vegetables instead . . .read more...

Time for cake? "..celebrate the wonderful days of winter or beat the winter blues with a freshly baked cake." -  Mani Niall

Walnut Bundt Cake with Orange, Rum and Brown Sugar Syrup
Walnut oil is rich in polyunsaturates and omega 3’s. Besides that, it tastes great. Feel free to use all vegetable oil if walnut oil is unavailable.

Sticky Toffee Pudding
Pure heaven as is, but you may want to serve with ice cream or whipped cream to accentuate and cut the richness.

For more of Mani Niall's recipes, refer to  Mani's Archives

  Visit our web site at www.clabbergirl.com.

Your comments, recipes and cooking tips are welcome as always. Send via e-mail to: pmeeks@clabbergirl.com.

See you next month!