Joyeux Mardi Gras!

     So Mardi Gras has been going on for awhile, but I usually just celebrate it with the kiddos on Fat Tuesday.  It's a day with beads, masks, purple, green and gold, yummy food, and festive treats!  I usually make the traditional Red Beans & Rice, Gumbo, Dirty Rice, Okra, yadda yadda.... but this year I wanted to do something a little different.  So, I went on Pinterest and found some yummy new recipes to try out on the family.  They are awesome and got the thumbs up!  These were definitely blog worthy!

Here's the Mardi Gras lunch I came up with for Liam 

Purple, green & yellow Gold Fish,

PB&J with sanding sugars,

Grapes & Apricots,

and a King Cake Bar (I made)

While Liam was in school, Kinley and I dressed up!

For dinner I made some finger lickin' Cajun BBQ Shrimp

and some Bacon Collard Greens!

For dessert we enjoyed some King Cake Bars

and Bourbon Pecan Pralines!

Hope you had a fun festive Mardi Gras....

now that we filled ourselves on Fat Tuesday, it's time to fast for Ash Wednesday for Lent!

Bacon Collard Greens

Recipe from Taste of Home

What you need:

2 lbs collard greens

4 thick sliced bacon strips (chopped)

1 cup sweet onion (chopped)

5 cups chicken broth

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil, chopped)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

How to make it:

Trim thick stems from collard greens, coarsely chop leaves.

In a Dutch oven, saute bacon for 3 minutes.

Add onion, cook for 8 to 9 minutes or until onion is tender and bacon is crisp.

Add greens, cook just until wilted.

Stir in remaining ingredients.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45-50 minutes or until greens are tender.

Then ENJOY!