Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Get Fat!
Shrove or Fat Tuesday is a day of decadence. Traditionalists will eat pancakes or crepes to celebrate. These foods are made because they used up butter, eggs, milk, and sugar—decadent foods that are avoided by some during the season of Lent. I celebrated Fat Tuesday by baking a King Cake. Historically this was eaten for the feast of epiphany to celebrate the coming of the three wise men, but I’m not splitting hairs. Tons of King Cake is devoured each year to celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans. One lucky diner from my book group found the bean baked into the cake and was named “king”--or rather “queen”--for the day and shall have good luck for the coming year. Lessez le bon ton roulles!
Today’s Lunch
Red Beans and Rice
1 chopped onion
1 chopped red, green, or yellow pepper
3 stalks celery chopped
3/4 pound sliced polish or Italian sausage
2 12-oz cans of kidney beans
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp thyme
2 bay leaves
2 tsp crushed garlic
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp white pepper
Heat olive oil in a stock pot on medium heat for about a minute. Add onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add sausage, peppers, celery, and herbs and spices. Sautee until the sausage is well browned. Add kidney beans with juice and rice. Cover and cook for twenty minutes. Serves 4.
Today’s Lunch
Red Beans and Rice
1 chopped onion
1 chopped red, green, or yellow pepper
3 stalks celery chopped
3/4 pound sliced polish or Italian sausage
2 12-oz cans of kidney beans
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp thyme
2 bay leaves
2 tsp crushed garlic
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp white pepper
Heat olive oil in a stock pot on medium heat for about a minute. Add onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add sausage, peppers, celery, and herbs and spices. Sautee until the sausage is well browned. Add kidney beans with juice and rice. Cover and cook for twenty minutes. Serves 4.
