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February 5 is Marti Gras

Written by Jasper Chancy

Wednesday, 09 January 2008

In New Orleans, They know how to throw the biggest party in the world - Mardi Gras.

Re-creating this world famous event is a great theme for any party, banquet, or meeting. The colors of Mardi Gras, purple, green and gold, will decorate your party room for a memorable occasion.

Mardi Gras themed events are gaining in popularity across the world. We have received letters inquiring about Mardi Gras parties. By the way you can post your own event or blog right here online. The reason for these parties popularity is because, Mardi Gras is a positive memory in the minds of many people. Being able to taste the Cajun cuisines, hear the Zydeco or Jazz sounds, and see the bright colors is an activity many would love to experience again and again. Re-living Mardi Gras and celebrating the New Orleans tradition creates an exciting and fun evening for all partygoers. Many people having Mardi Gras parties have started their own tradition.

We have compiled this easy-to-follow guide to assist you in planning your Mardi Gras event.

Three Simple Steps to a Successful Mardi Gras Party

Step 1: Planning

Three weeks before the party:

Select date.
If you are ordering Mardi Gras Items, keep in mind that this is the busiest time of year for the Mardi Gras business, so therefore, leave plenty of time to receive your merchandise. Also many items sell out in advance.
Learn about Mardi Gras from the library or with Mardi Gras Guide
Create guest list for the party
Send invitations. Include date of party, time (starting, ending) and location.
Plan and select decorations, party favors, centerpieces, door prizes, etc. Many economical alternatives are available.
Plan and select costumes, masks, beads and doubloons
Plan the menu
Prepare grocery list, and don't forget the Kingcake for dessert.

King Cake
Traditional New Orleans Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees)

2 packages active dry yeast

1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar

3 1/2 - 4 1/2 cups unsifted flour

1 teaspoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest (skin, not rind)

1/2 cup warm milk

5 egg yolks

1 stick butter cut into slices and softened, plus 2 tablespoons more softened butter

1 egg slightly beaten with 1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1" plastic baby doll* (found in craft stores or specialty baking stores)

10-20 1" plastic trinkets* (found in craft stores or specialty baking stores)

*If you prefer, just use the one baby doll in the cake.

PARTY POINTER: Be sure to remind guests (especially those unfamiliar with King Cakes) to watch out for the toy trinkets so that no one has to make an emergency trip to the dentist! If children are involved, put larger or edible candy charms on top of the cake so they don't accidentally choke.

Directions

1. Into a small shallow bowl, pour the warm water, add yeast and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Let yeast and sugar rest for three minutes and then mix thoroughly. Place the bowl in a warm, dark place for ten minutes (or until yeast bubbles and mixture doubles in volume.)

2. Blend 3 1/2 cups of the flour with remaining sugar, nutmeg and salt. Sift into a large mixing bowl. Stir in lemon zest. Form a hole in the mixture and slowly add yeast mix and milk.

3. Add egg yolks and, slowly combine dry ingredients into the yeast/milk mixture with a wooden spoon. Stir until mixture is smooth. Then, one at a time, beat in 8 tablespoons butter and continue to mix for two minutes or until dough can be formed into a medium-soft ball.

4. On a lightly-floured surface, place dough and knead as you would bread dough. Sprinkle up to 1 cup more of flour (1 tablespoon at a time), while you're kneading, over the dough. Add plastic trinkets. When dough is no longer sticky, knead for ten minutes or until shiny and elastic.

5. Coat the inside of a large bowl evenly using a pastry brush with one tablespoon softened butter. Place dough ball in the bowl and swirl until the entire surface is buttered. Cover bowl with a thick towel and place in a draft-free spot for approximately 1 1/2 hours or until the dough doubles in volume. Coat a large baking sheet with one tablespoon of butter using a pastry brush and set aside.

6. Remove dough and place on lightly-floured surface. Punch dough down forcefully with your fist. Sprinkle cinnamon over mixture, pat and shake dough into a roll. Twist dough to form a curled roll and loop it onto a buttered baking sheet. Pinch the ends together to complete the circle. Cover dough again with a towel and set it in a dark, draft-free location for 45 minutes, or until the dough again doubles in volume. Pre-heat oven to 375°.

7. Brush top and sides of dough with egg wash (beaten egg with a tablespoon of water) and bake on middle oven rack for 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool cake on wire rack. If desired, you can hide the plastic baby and charms in the cake at this time. The frosting will help cover where you put the plastic baby and charms.

Icing:

3 cups confectioners sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

3 - 6 tablespoons water

Green, Yellow and Purple-Colored Sugar (available in baking section)

Directions:

Stir sugar and lemon juice with 3 tablespoons water until smooth. If icing is too stiff, add more water. Spread icing over top of cake. Immediately sprinkle the icing with alternating 2" bands of green, purple and yellow colored sugar. If you can't find the colored sugar, you can separate the icing into three batches and use food coloring to color each batch green, yellow and purple to create the bands.

No-bake version of a King Cake.

Buy a cinnamon coffee cake ring and cut slits in top of cake to carefully insert small trinkets so each guest gets a prize with each slice.

- Select and hire caterer/serving help (if needed)
- Book hall or party facility (if needed)
- Don't forget the Music

A few days before the party:

- Call any guests who have not responded

- Buy groceries and beverages

- Order or make Kingcake

One day before the party:

- Clean house, party room facility, or confirm reservation at hall

- Set up and arrange party room

- Get out serving pieces

- Coordinate last-minute arrangements with caterer, servers

The day of the party:

- Decorate party room(s)

- Prepare and arrange remaining food

- Coordinate set-up, service, cleanup with hired helpers

- Mentally "travel through" party

- Dress in costume and be festive

- Await arrival of guests, set the mood and turn the music up high!

- Remember if throwing beads say "Throw me somethin', Mister!" Just like in New Orleans at the Mardi Gras.

- Have fun!

A. Send out Invitations

Remember to indicate on the invitation that this is a Mardi Gras Party and that guests should wear official Mardi Gras Colors - purple, green, and gold! As the host, you'll want to be decked out in all your Mardi Gras finery--chose from decorate yourself selections with a MG Cap, or just accessorize or Beads, and for a really fun look--a Feather Mask!

B. Select a Menu

Decide when, where, and how you are going to serve the food. New Orleans is known for its "good eats," and you can certainly "jazz" up the evening with some Cajun eating! Continue your Mardi Gras theme when decorating your tables with purple, green and gold.

C. Mardi Gras Decorations & Atmosphere

A party without music is like New Orleans without the French Quarter--incomplete! Get ready to boogie to the sounds of the Carnival Season if you put on Mardi Gras Music! Play it throughout the party for a festive effect! Beads are really versatile--besides wearing them, you can also decorate with them! Hang them from ceiling fans, furniture, anywhere and everywhere!

Make it known where the party's action is with a Mardi Gras Flag! People will know they're at the right place when they see the crisp purple, green, and gold hanging at your party destination!

String up the magical mood of carnival when you hang up a Mardi Gras Light Set over your partygoers--the purple, green, and gold colors will definitely set the mood!

Step 2: The Party

A. Arrival of Guests

Welcome Guests and give each a strand or two of beads to wear around their neck to get them into the Mardi Gras spirit - it's kind of like the leis that are placed around your neck when you get to the Hawaiian Airport, New Orleans style! Door prizes are a welcome idea for any party since everyone loves to get free stuff! These prizes should probably coincide with the MG theme that you chose - How about some clever Crawfish Suspenders or Mardi Gras Collector Items?

Create an air of mystery and give each guest a Feather Mask when they come. It's fun to unmask everyone later in the evening and see who all the mystery people are!!

B. Games and Activities

Mardi Gras and New Orleans Trivia for the Jeopardy-loving partygoers, or for a more sit-down type of party.

- Play Who Got the Baby Card Game
- Play Mardi Gras Madness
- For the wilder set - how about some fiesta limbo? Maybe some Carnival Charades?
- Possibly make your party a Mardi Gras Costume Party or Ball and give out costume awards for Most MG spirit, Most Creative, etc.
- You may also elect to choose a King and a Queen. They might have the best costumes, they might be the Guests of Honor, or you can just pick out of a hat! They can have the honor of leading the first dance or whatever you choose.

C. Party Wrap-up

Time for party favors, awards, and prizes! Some ideas are: