Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Monday, March 3, 2014

We Call It Shrove Tuesday . . . But Most People Call It Mardi Gras

I do like holidays
I live for holidays
And not just the major ones
like
Christmas and Easter
but minor holidays
as well
(Don't forget I celebrate George Washington's birthday!)

Normally, on Shrove Tuesday
which is also known as Fat Tuesday
or more well known as
Mardi Gras
we usually celebrate with pancakes.

Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day
in many parts of the world.

And we always have pancakes twice
For breakfast at home
and for dinner at church.

Our church has it's annual
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feed
at night.
And we always go!

However, this year I got into the Mardi Gras spirit!
A progressive dinner held Saturday night
with a Mardi Gras theme
complete with beads 


And King's Cake
(the first Mardi Gras King's Cake I've ever made --
the Epiphany King's Cake is the one I usually make)

A sleety, freezing rain night curtailed our reveling!

But we did make merry!

And this afternoon, it was time for a Mardi Gras Tea.

Friends Judy and Anne joined me
for tea and treats
(with beads and crowns!)


In the breakfast room
(And who says blue and white doesn't go with everything!
It's a great pattern for Mardi Gras!)


Not with King's Cake -- 
But with cupcakes
Decorated with the green, purple and gold sugars of the King's Cake
And instead of a baby inside, it's on top!



A whole cake plate full of them!


My fairy cakes, frosted with cream cheese icing
Sprinkled with sugars and a plastic baby plopped on top!


It was a great tea this afternoon.
But what afternoon isn't good
when you share friendship and food!

As they say in New Orleans --

Laissez les bons temps rouler



It's Tuesday and I'm joining:


Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Bernideen for Friends Sharing Tea

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday




10 comments:

Beth in NEPA said...

In my part of Pennsylvania "Fat Tuesday" is when many churches sell donuts that they call Fastnacht. Traditionally, fastnachts were made by Pennsylvania Dutch housewives on Fat Tuesday to use up all the fat in the house before Lent. "Fastnacht" is a German word meaning "night before the fast."

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Martha,
Yes, we'll be having our pancakes tomorrow too. Home made of course with lots of maple syrup. I'm debating whether or not to have my baked beans with them. Your fairy cakes are cute and I love your blue and white china. Sounds like you had a lovely tea with your friends. Thank you for sharing it with us and joining me for tea.

Blessings,
Sandi

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

A fun post! :) Very interesting. A family member lived in New Orleans years ago and I was able to visit there for Mardi Gras / amazing.

I was not familiar with "Shrove Tuesday" / usually hear "Fat Tuesday" but never really knew too much about it so this was great : )

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

We always celebrated Shrove Tuesday at home and the garden club I belong to has a Mardi Gras pot luck each year.

GardenOfDaisies said...

I still remember when I was about 14 years old and my Dad took me downtown to watch the massive Carnival parade. Carnival was the biggest holiday of the year in the country where I lived at that time. The music, the dancing, the samba schools, the crazy costumes, the excitement in the air. It was one of those WOW-I'll-never-forget-this experiences.

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Pancake day here in Scotland. I'd never heard of King's Cake before - interesting!
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

How fun, and I love the cupcakes. I didn't know about Shrove Tuesday, insteresting. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, marty

Martha's Favorites said...

Love the blue transfer ware. I did not know about pancake day. Sounds fun. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha

Pat said...

Martha,
YuMMy!!! King's Cake! Your tablescape is gorgeous and festive, dear friend!!!
We did the Traditional Pancake day here!!!
Welcoming the Lenten season and the onset of Spring!
Fondly,
Pat

Rhondi said...

Hi Martha I love your blue and white china. I always forget about pancake Tuesday until too late so we never get to have pancakes! Your king cake looks delicious.