Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, and Mardi Gras were just a few celebrations on our mind this February that inspired our recipe collection, from steamed whole fish to tantalizing cocktails. We also highlighted other international flavors like South American sopaipillas and French soufflés. There are a whole lot of recipes to bake, fry, and steam from February, so keep clicking to get started.
— Additional reporting by Lisette Mejia and Laura Marie Meyers
After yesterday's gluttonous Mardi Gras celebrations, Lent, the Catholic season of penance, starts today. Many Catholics give up a vice during this 40-day period, and even if you don't do it for religious reasons, you may find that giving something up for Lent is a good way to start a healthy habit or lose weight.
To see just how effective avoiding an unhealthy food for 40 days can be, we've rounded up 10 popular foods that many people choose to give up for Lent, along with the total calories you'll save if you avoid them. Read on for the 10 foods and the calorie counts, based on typical eating habits.
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It's Fat Tuesday, and that means the Mardi Gras party is under way! With all the Carnival celebrations around the world, there are plenty of opportunities for stars to get wild. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are touring Brazil just in time for the festivities, as are couple Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green. Gisele Bundchen got in on the action in Rio in 2011 while Jennifer Lopez, boyfriend Casper Smart and others have participated in the festival fun from Brazil to New Orleans in the past as well. Click through to get the party started!
What do the hurricane, bourbon milk punch, and the Ramos gin fizz all have in common? They all hail from the great cocktail town of New Orleans, and are all good options for celebrating Fat Tuesday in style. But if you're a sucker for classic, spirit-forward cocktails like I am, then there's only one way to celebrate Mardi Gras: with a classic Sazerac.
I've enjoyed Sazeracs in many iterations: served on the rocks or straight up in a martini glass, with the Sazerac brand of whiskey, and even with fruit infusions. Mark my words, though: the most perfect version of a Sazerac is this minimalist one from my friend Sam Treadway, bartender at Boston's Backbar.
I reached out to Sam to find out what makes his Sazerac so memorable. As it turns out, the Big Easy cocktail has a special place in his heart, so he gives it plenty of due attention. "It needs nothing too fancy," he told me. "Just lots of love, because it's my favorite drink."
See his recipe when you keep reading.
Happy Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Fat Tuesday! Lent begins tomorrow, on Ash Wednesday, so today people around the world are celebrating (and have been celebrating all month) with Carnival events, parades, and general merriment and indulgences on Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday." So get in on the fun and the culture with a peek at the world celebrating Mardi Gras season and learn about the traditions of France, Italy, Brazil, and more!
While I most often associate bourbon milk punch with holiday festivities, Winter months are always an appropriate time for this slushy, granita-like cocktail made with milk, bourbon, and powdered sugar. In Louisiana and Mississippi, households pride themselves on bourbon milk punch recipes. There are arguments about whether you should use vanilla ice cream or whole milk and if the punch should have bourbon or brandy. The recipe varieties are endless; my mom even admits to making diet milk punches with her friends using skim milk and Sweet'n Low.
The following is my favorite milk punch recipe, made with whole milk and bourbon. The whole milk gives it enough creaminess and body, and the vanilla and nutmeg make me nostalgic for a snowy Winter day. The best part is you can control the sweetness of the beverage as well as the strength. Just remember, as the milk punch freezes, it won't be as sweet as it is in liquid form. Due to the bourbon, the milk does not completely freeze, and the frozen punch can be easily scraped into a slushy cocktail. Do as the natives in New Orleans, and drink this cocktail during brunch on Winter days.
If you're planning to celebrate Mardi Gras with your little ones, then these purple, green, and gold pieces are sure to get them in the spirit! With a mix of fun, sparkly accents and more classic, wear-again picks, we're highlighting a variety of festive fashions for a kid-friendly Fat Tuesday. Take a look to get your kids party-ready for Mardi Gras!
Welcome to Fat Tuesday — aka Mardi Gras! If you aren't able make it to the French Quarter to celebrate with beads and beers, bring the occasion to your own home today with a few Cajun and Creole classics — as well as a few contemporary riffs on traditional New Orleans fare. Here are some of our favorites.
No matter where you are celebrating Mardi Gras this year, you can channel the feeling of New Orleans with a few home decor picks! Give new meaning to those famous beads with stunning throw pillows or use the fleur-de-lis to add a French flair to your tabletop. Golds, purples, and greens will liven up your space and help you celebrate all year long no matter how far you are from the bustle of Bourbon Street.
