Happy Mardi Gras!

Today is Mardi Gras...Fat Tuesday!  Last year I had the best time ever and I wish I could have gone this year.  For those who are there...eat some King (cup)Cake for me!

P.S.  Wishing a special Happy Mardi Gras to my good friend Lily J!

TidyMom

(Cheryl)

Lundi Gras 2011

I grew up in southern Mississippi, not far from New Orleans.  I love Carnival in New Orleans! 

Today is Lundi Gras (Fat Monday)...the day before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).  I did not get to go this year, but tonight is one of my favorite nights of the Carnival season.  Rex, the King of Carnival, arrives by boat at 6 pm and the mayor of New Orleans gives him the key to the city and gives Rex the honor of "ruling" the city the next day (Mardi Gras Day).  Rex reads a proclamation stating that no one will work on Tuesday and everyone must celebrate.  Then the crowd sings It's Carnival Time and enjoys more music & fireworks.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

(Let the good times roll!)

I Sing in the Kitchen

Mardi Gras Recap

Home again!  After a crazy week of traveling I am home and ready to get back to the cupcake universe.  As I explained yesterday, the cupcake bakeries I had hoped to visit were closed until after Ash Wednesday so no cupcakes for me.  There were some king cakes made into muffin-sized morsels but they weren't really cupcakes.  I ate beignets and pretended they were cupcakes.

The theme for the Orpheus parade this year was "Delectable Delights" and one float featured a chef with cupcakes on the float.  It is very hard to get night photos to turn out well due to the enormous number of lights on the floats but I tried.  I did capture a cupcake on one float.

Next year I want to make my own beads with cupcakes on them....maybe my own Carpe Cupcake! doubloons!

Chef on one of the Orpheus parade floats

Cupcake - Orpheus parade float

The Saints' Super Bowl win was

huge - lots of Saints costumes

Store window on Royal Street

Me and one of the many Elvises on Bourbon Street

Happy Mardi Gras!

It's Fat Tuesday....Mardi Gras Day....the last day of celebration before Lent begins at midnight tonight. 

(I will be celebrating in New Orleans today & tomorrow...be back Thursday!)

whitebuffalobk via Flickr

 

The Adventures of the Traveling Cupcake

Next week I will be visiting family in Mississippi and then going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  This cupcake will be traveling with me....and we will be reporting to you along the way!

Mardi Gras Cupcake Picks

I will be leaving for Mardi Gras in New Orleans on February 13th...and I am getting in the mood by shopping for cupcake decorations!  These cupcake picks are available on Amazon, Fancy Flours and Bakersnook. 

Mardi Gras Cupcakes

My flight is booked...my hotel is reserved...my taste buds are primed for some gumbo and boiled shrimp...just counting down the days til Fat Tuesday!  I grew up in a small southern Mississippi town about an hour away from New Orleans so the city is very special to me.  Last year's Mardi Gras was my first one since Hurricane Katrina and I think it was the best one so far. Can't wait for Mardi Gras 2010! 

I have planned to visit several cupcake bakeries in New Orleans and there may be some surprises along the way.  Stay tuned as the Mardi Gras season really gets started and Mardi Gras cupcakes begin to appear!

Mardi Gras cupcake decorations

and photo from Sugarcraft.com