Mardi Gras Recipes: Cajun Style Meals, Snacks, Drinks and More

I love the Mardi Gras season! It not only gives me an opportunity to prepare some of my favorite dishes-New Orleans style! There are many great dishes: all ranging from delicious gumbos to tasty jambalayas. My mouth is watering now from just the mention of these dishes.

Although I enjoy most of the seasonal dishes, my most favorite is dirty rice. I love this dish because you can prepare it in so many ways. Aside from the general ingredients, you can add some more spice by adding peppers or other spices to your dirty rice, or if you're a meat lover, you can just about add any kind of meat you choose to your liking! I know-such a delicious, but versatile dish!

And to make it even better-this dish doesn't have you in the kitchen, missing all the celebrations. You can prepare this dish in under an hour! Then, you'll have time to get your party gear on, paint your face and head out the door while the dish cools down and will be waiting for you when your party returns home, hungry. :)

The recipe I have below is a traditional, general recipe used. I had to get some accurate information on dirty rice with the help of Tabasco, seemingly because our family usually cook from memory and/or love; another reason is that we have a tendency to cook by knowledge....or maybe I should say: Wisdom-HA!

Dirty Rice:

2 cups water

2 cups beef stock or broth

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups long-grain rice

1 pound bulk breakfast sausage (hot or mild)

1 pound ground beef

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup minced onion

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 to 2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon ground thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

Cayenne pepper to taste

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1/2 cup chopped green onions

Dirty Rice: Combine water, beef stock, butter, and salt in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in rice and return to boiling. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand.

Meanwhile, combine sausage and ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until meat is brown, breaking into small pieces as it cooks. Add oil, onion, bell pepper, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper, cayenne, and parsley and cook until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir meat mixture and green onions into cooked rice and mix well. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes 10 to 12 (1-cup) servings.

Of course, you can add more meats of your choice, and your favorite spice to adjust the flavor. Be sure to enjoy!