Mardi Gras February 17th, 2015

I have always dreamed of going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras celebration, but for now I will have to settle for making it festive at home. My sister and I collaborated on New Orleans style cuisine. We used Cajun seasonings and spices to make sauteed shrimp & grits and served them alongside collared greens and asparagus. Recipe follows.

For Shrimp & Grits you will need:

1 pound cleaned, peeled and de-veined shrimp, uncooked

3-4 tablespoons creole or Cajun seasoning

4-5 cloves fresh garlic, chopped

1 can chick peas

1 bunch of collard greens, cleaned and chopped

4-5 strips of bacon, chopped

quick cook grits

1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 lb. fresh asparagus, ends chopped off

oil for sauteing

1. In a large mixing bowl, toss the uncooked shrimp with the seasoning, adding a few tablespoons of olive oil. Let marinade for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
2. Saute shrimp and garlic in 2 tablespoons of oil on medium heat. Stirring constantly until shrimp turn opaque and a light pink color. Add the chick peas, omitting liquid. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a separate small pot, cook grits according to packaged directions. At the end, add the shredded cheese and mix thoroughly.
4. In the saute pan, lightly brown the bacon and add collard greens on medium heat. Add about 1/4 cup water, cover and turn the heat down to simmer.
5. Add the asparagus to the pan for a few minutes until they cooked to desired consistency.

Enjoy!

 The King Cake mix can be purchased at http://www.mampapauls.com/product.sc?productId=10

We followed the instructions according to the package and decorated with beads.

I accessorized with Jamberry Nail Wraps to create Mardi Gras nails!! I painted my nails with different colored polish,then layered black and clear jams on the top! Shown with: Lost Ruins (thumb), Sheer Genius (pointer&middle) &Lace Noir (pinky&ring). There are alot of wraps that have a design on clear that you can layer over your favorite polish!

Update: Jamberry Nail wraps are currently unavailable