Time for our annual Mardi Gras Party!
We used to hold on Mardi Gras itself, but it is easier on a weekend than a weeknight. More time to par-tay!
We put the flag out.
I dug out my personal bead collection.
All of this acquired on our various trips to New Orleans. A couple bought, but most were thrown to me, but I always kept my shirt on 
Can I also just say that I am liking my haircut. It’s so easy.
Masks arrived!
Dinner was
Barbecue Shrimp (served with rice)
Mardi Gras vegetables (courtesy of my sister’s family):
Plus a fruit tray. (courtesy of the parents)
Very, very good! The shrimp was so good and so easy, too. If the large shrimp weren’t so expensive, I think we would eat this more often.
Jenga and wine – a good combo or not?? You be the judge.
I played guitar some, along with one of the nieces.
Then it was time for dessert! Bread Pudding – White chocolate chips with rum sauce. No raisins in our bread pudding because as we say, raisins are *always* optional!
So good! I love really good bread pudding. It is never as good in a restaurant as what we make at home with the exception of Red Fish Grille in New Orleans. Theirs is amazing.
More games:
This game is basically guessing true or false on statements. It’s just makes it more fun to yell out that it’s crap!
Ladies in masks. The guys didn’t wear masks (or want to be in pictures, the party poopers).
Even Pixie got into the spirit with the beads.
Okay, she didn’t really like the beads LOL!
Always a good time – and there are still 2 days left to party!
What a fun time we had! Thanks to you and John for hosting the party. The food was delicious (as always) and the company was wonderful!
🙂 I don’t know what mardi gras is…anyway looks like you guys had fun!!!
How fun! 1–I love bread pudding! Love it even more without raisins! 2–love the name and idea of the fact or crap game! 3–Pixie looks like she belongs in a Mardi Gras movie or something! You could share your really good bread pudding recipe with us sometime!
Here is the bread pudding basic recipe I use
http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1594926-Bread-pudding
I left out the nuts and raisins and put in white chocolate chips! You can make endless varieties of bread pudding with this recipe.
Now I know what will be our next theme party. Mardi Gras of course. 🙂
Well, Pixie looks a bit morose. Did she freak out when you put the masks on?
What a great evening Lori. I love it that you and your family do this every year.
Sounds like you all had a great time! My kids are in carnaval vacation for the entire week. Gotta love how carnaval brings brightness to the dullness of winter!
Loved New Orleans! My friend from college was from Metarie and he got married on the Creole Queen paddleboat. We stayed in the French Quarter and had coffee and beignets at Cafe DuMonde, dinner at KPaul’s… We were only there a few days but instanly fell in love with that city! (What’s better than walking down the middle of Burbon Street at 1am with a Hurricane in your hand?)
next year shall we do a big big virtual one??
That would be fun! Beads for all!
It looks like an awesome time was had for all!
OMG what a RIOT! I have a co-worker who is taking a cruise and she spent Saturday down in New Orleans living up the Mardi Gras excitment before leaving.
The masks are wonderful and your eats look incredible. Must look up that bread pudding recipe. Wow
Here is the link http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1594926-Bread-pudding
How fun wads that!!! Love all the pics AND YES, you hair! Too much fun & yummy looking food!
I so cracked up when I got to the last pic of Pixie – she did not look like she liked the beads!
😉
That looks like a ball! And oh. my. goodness. on the chicken/cornbread casserole. That would be a total comfort food for me! I may need to put that recipe into my rotation for my treat day 😀
What a fun party! And I laughed about the men not wanting to wear the masks – maybe it’s like makeup to them? They missed out, as you ladies all looked fabulous!
I worked at a restaurant in high school that had the best NO bbq shrimp – I’ve come close to recreating it – only problem is that you’ll want to eat half a loaf of bread to soak up all the spicy butter!
http://mybizzykitchen.com/2010/05/28/i-have-a-new-gym/
Glad you had fun – love your hair cut too!!
Oh Lori, looks like SUCH a blast!!! Love that Pixie was beaded too. AWWW. Hope the fun continues into the week.
Love the party and the food looks amazing!
I wish shrimp weren’t so expensive either – but yours turned out awesome!
Great party! I contemplated doing a Mardi Gras menu this weekend, maybe even a party but then my mood fell into the dumps and we settled on left overs and soup. Oh well. I know I won’t get it together by tomorrow so… here’s to next year.
I love it when your Mom comments!!!
The party looks like great fun and the food looks fabulous…I have always wanted to go to New Orleans…just have to work up the nerve to fly again.
Love the beads and masks!
It sounds so fun! I love family parties.
🙂 Marion
This looks so fun, Lori. Like others, I may add this to my list of “to-dos” for next year. The eats look yummy, too. Esp the barbecued shrimp.