Mardi Gras Party Food

It's been 11 years since I've lived in New Orleans, but I get back at least 4 times a year. I just love it - the people, the food, the weather (even the humidity). Now's when I miss it the most. It's Mardi Gras time. This year, Mardi Gras is Tuesday, February 2 - pretty early.

I have a Mardi Gras party every year - and my friends are always amazed at the food! I tell everyone to come hungry! This is the second year I've incorporated Two Sisters Gourmet into my recipes - so check them out! They all have rave reviews.

And if you need Two Sisters Gourmet products, it is free shipping in January with a $50 order. Click here for my shopping cart.

Artichoke Pesto Crab Dip
2 jars TSG Artichoke Pesto
1 block cream cheese
3- 6 oz. cans of lump crab meat
1 can of quartered artichoke hearts, chopped

Combine all ingredients in medium sauce pan and heat thoroughly. Serve warm. (I kept mine in a small crock pot.)

New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp
1 stick butter
1 bottle beer
2 tbls Worcestershire sauce
1 tbls hot sauce
3 tbls TSG Outrageously Garlic
3 tbls TSG Tearless Onion and Chive
1 tsp TSG Sea Salt and Pepper
1 – 2 lbs. raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on or off

Preheat oven to 350. Place stick of butter in 9x13 pan and put in oven for 3-5 minutes to melt butter. Remove pan from oven. Put next 6 ingredients in pan and stir. Place shrimp in pan, and put in refrigerator for 1 – 2 hours to marinate. After marinating, bake for 10 – 15 minutes, or until shrimp have turned pink. Serve shrimp and sauce in a large bowl or covered dish. Serve with French bread for dipping in the sauce.

Crawfish Tartelettes
1 stick butter
¼ cup onion, chopped
¼ cup green pepper, chopped
¼ cup celery, chopped
2 cans Campbell’s Cream of Shrimp Soup
¼ cup water
12 – 16 oz. crawfish tails, out of shells, chopped
¾ cup - 1 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning – separated
2 boxes (60 count) TSG Tartelettes

In large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, green pepper and celery. Saute until vegetables are translucent. Add 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Add 2 cans of soup. Add water. Stir well. Add crawfish tails. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Slowly add bread crumbs. If necessary, add more to reach desired consistency (should be similar to a turkey stuffing).

Preheat oven to 350. Place crawfish mixture in tartellettes. Place tartelettes on cookie sheet and bake for 5 – 7 minutes, until crawfish is well heated. Serve warm.

Crawfish Beer Bread
1 pkg. Two Sisters Gourmet Beer Bread
1 bottle of beer (I like Harp)
12 oz. peeled crawfish tails
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together in bowl. Place in loaf pan. Bake for about one hour.