A Southern Life: my take on traditions, food, sights and more.
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Dinner at the Ball
Yesterday, I shared my experience of being in a Carnival Krewe and riding in a parade. Today, I wanted to show you some of the tables from a Masquerade Ball. This is a fun event with everyone dressed so elegantly in their ball gowns and tuxes. Masks are required and must be worn until dinner.…
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Let the Parades Roll!
We are in the full swing of Carnival here in New Orleans. The beads are flying, the bands are marching, the floats are rolling, and it is truly something incredible to behold. As I mentioned in a past post, I was lucky to get to be a part of the fabulous Mystic Krewe of Nyx…
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Beautiful City Park of New Orleans
One of my favorite things about living in New Orleans is taking the opportunity to be a tourist in my own town. There are so many things to see and do. I also love watching visitors enjoying this unique city. One of the places that locals enjoy is City Park. It is also visited by…
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Carnival Dinner
It’s always fun to set a table for Carnival. Lots of beads, a couple of masks, napkins folded as fleur de lis, all set the china and crystal aglow. Come have a seat at the table and see what fun we can have . . .
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Carnival King Cake Is Here
Don’t miss a thing. Subscribe to A Southern Life Enter your email address: Delivered by FeedBurner Just in case you haven’t had enough king cake yet, here is another helping. I saw an article on NOLA Eater the other day, discussing some of the incredible variations on king cake. There are king cake donuts, king…
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Mardi Gras FAQ
Well, Mardi Gras is right around the corner, and the parades will be starting soon. I’m certainly no expert, but I am happy to answer some of the questions that I have gotten about Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
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Incredible Blue Cheese Puffs
Looking for a nice little bite to add to your cheese plate? I love making these tasty little cheese puffs – filled with blue cheese and herbs from my garden. Of course, you can switch out the cheese and herbs and make this into anything you like, but you really need to try this. A…
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Bird of Paradise – It Finally Bloomed!
I wrote some time ago (before I moved to New Orleans) about my bird of paradise plant. When I got the plant, it was with the knowledge that it may not bloom for up to 7 years. Sooo, I have nurtured this plant and moved with this plant (and broke the pot it was planted…
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Mardi Gras Decorations
January decor in New Orleans means Mardi Gras (or Carnival – but that is another post). With the Mardi Gras colors of purple green and gold – which we got from Rex – we paint the town. It is sparkly, it is bright, it is colorful and it is fun. In a lot of places,…
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Mardi Gras Jambalaya
I call this Mardi Gras Jambalaya for a couple of reasons. One, it is Carnival time and the other is it colorful and bold – kinda like Mardi Gras. This recipe is based on a recipe by the great Chef John Folse. I first learned of the trinity (onion, celery, bell pepper) from Chef Folse…
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Mardi Gras Jambalaya
Mardi Gras Jambalaya Print Recipe Good and easy to put together with whatever you have on hand. I had andouille sausage, smoked sausage, and some leftover ham. CourseRice and Pasta Servings 6 people Servings 6 people Mardi Gras Jambalaya Print Recipe Good and easy to put together with whatever you have on hand.…
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King Cake Rules!
So like New Orleans. . . in most places, people have put away their Christmas decorations and started their New Year’s diet. In New Orleans, while the Christmas decorations may have been put away, we have put up the Carnival decorations and everyone is eating king cake! So many traditions, so much yummy goodness. Now…
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Let Carnival Begin!
So this Wednesday is January 6th which is the date of Twelfth Night, also known as Epiphany. In New Orleans, it is the official beginning of Carnival season and we kick it off with a few parades and parties and the consumption of King Cake. Twelfth Night is the end of the Christmas season and…