I PROMISE this is the last time I will bring up Mardi Gras in 2023. If you are around NOLA from the 18th to the 21st of February, you are in for a wild time. The biggest and best parades take center stage. We are open most of our usual hours. Announcements will be made on social media and posted on door so be sure to check. We would hate to miss ya’ll.
My favorites include Krewe of Thoth. “Named for the ibis-headed Egyptian god of wisdom, the all-male Thoth parade was designed 67 years ago to bring Carnival to those confined to hospitals and other institutions in the Uptown neighborhood.”
The Krewe of Baccus, “uptown's most spectacular procession, the all-male Bacchus parade rivals Endymion’s in pure extravagance and bead-throwing excess”.
Zulu, “founded in 1909, Zulu has long been a touchstone of African American culture in New Orleans. Crowds vie for a chance to catch hand-decorated Zulu coconuts, one of Carnival’s most coveted throws. The glittering coconuts were the inspiration for other hand-decorated throws – shoes, purses, fedoras, sunglasses, etc. – that are common among other parading organizations”.
Finally comes Rex, the all-male organization selects a king, known as Rex, King of Carnival, who symbolically calls business and schools to halt across the city on Fat Tuesday to celebrate the holiday.
Now on to our serious business, we have been making pretty things for our kitchen. Today we are going to make coordinating potholders for those tea towels we did earlier this month. Be sure to use two layers of Insul-Bright to make your potholders extra heat-resistant. Follow the Insul-Bright product directions which state that it doesn't matter which side faces out. I prefer to place the two metallic sides facing the outsides of the potholders. The AppleGreen Cottage’s pattern makes a beautiful and easy potholder for your kitchen.
If you are wanting to learn how to quilt, this easy Folded potholder is a perfect beginner project for you. With Quilt Expression’s pattern you can easily make a quilted potholder that will send you on your way to make quilting your next have-to-do hobby.
These PDF’s will be available February 20th.
Please share your project with us at on Instagram #Chateausew&show
Check out our Jiffy Mitt – by Poorhouse Quilt design. This pattern lives up to its name. You will never have to be worried about your pretty little hands with this mitt in your kitchen. Fiddlesticks Designs - Momma's Go-to Potholders & Oven Mitts is a veritable pattern that can be used not only as potholders but as a trivet for hot dishes.
I’m sharing my favorite cornbread recipe. Served with red beans and rice or gumbo makes me happy.
Cornbread (I cook mine in a cast iron skillet)
Ingrediants : 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ⅓ cup neutral oil or melted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup milk
- Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or cast iron skillet well and set aside. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Whisk to combine well.
- Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients and add your oil or butter, milk, and egg. Stir just until the mixture comes together and there are only a few lumps remaining.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Serve hot.
Talk to you next week. Hope you visit us here is NOLA.
Happy Mardi Gras XXOO Susan