"Let The Good Times Roll"

Welcome to my blog, of Louisiana foods and festivals.

I will list here the great variety of entertainment, foods and festivals to enjoy thru out the state of Louisiana.

All of Louisiana is festival-crazy, and the state has something going year-round. I will also throw in a few great recipes as I list the festivals. From a smorgasbord of Southern, Texan, Cajun and International flavors to authentic South Louisiana's Cajun/Creole Cuisine.

COME SEE!

Louisians Office 0f Tourism:

(8OO) 33-GUMBO

JANUARY

Starting off the year on a sweet note, we have the SUGAR BOWL CLASSIC in New Orleans on New Year's Day.

RE-ENACTMENT OF THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS in Chalmette (weekend nearest actual battle date of January 8th).

NEW ORLEANS CAJUN MUSIC FESTIVAL in New Orleans.

MARTIN LUTHER KING FESTIVAL in Lake Charles.

LOUISIANA FUR AND WILDLIFE FESTIVAL in Cameron (2nd weekend).

ST. MARY PARISH 4-H FAIR in Franklin (late January).

ECUMENICAL SONG FESTIVAL in Houma.

MOREHOUSE PARISH FARM FESTIVAL in Bastrop.

LOUISIANA WE ARE REALLY COOKING

ORANGE GLAZED SWEET POTATOES (sweet taters)

2 lb. sweetpotatoes (about 6) 1/2 tsp. grated orange zest (peel)
2/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup orange juice
1 Tbsp. cornstarch 1/2 cup water
1 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Pare sweet potatoes. Cut each length-wise in half.
Arrange in ungreased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.

In small saucepan, stir together sugar, cornstarch, salt and orange zest. Then slowly stir orange juice and water into sugar mixture. Add butter.

Cook, carefully stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir for 1 minute.

Carefully pour HOT orange juice mixture over sweet potatoes in casserole dish.
Cover and bake for an hour, basting occasionally.
Makes 4 t0 6 servings.

FEBRUARY

CARNIVAL PARADE in Grand Isle

MARDI GRAS PARADES in Hammond, Covington, Mandeville, Lacombe, Livonia, New Roads, Loreauville, Franklin, Morgan City, Grand Marais (February or March).

KREWE OF TCHEFUNCTE BOAT PARADE in Madisonville.

KREWE OF BILGE PARADES in Slidell.

MARDI GRAS in Bogalusa.

FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC on LSU campus, Baton Rouge.

MARDI GRAS in Lake Charles.

LOUISIANA BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL in Lake Charles.

KREWE CHIC-A-LA-PIE in Kaplan.

LA GRANDE BOUCHERIE DES CAJUNS in St. Martinville (Sunday before Mardi Gras).

MARDI GRAS in Houma, Thibodaux, Eunice, Church Point (always 47 days before Easter).

MARDI GRAS IN THE ARK-LA-TEX (Arkansas,Louisiana,Texas) in Shreveport and Bossier City.

KREWE OF JANUS MARDI GRAS in Monroe and West Monroe.

IRON SKILLET CORN BREAD

1 cup yellow corn meal
1 cup flour
4 tsp. baking power
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp. canola oil for the skillet


Preheat oven to 425 degrees, put oiled iron or heavy skillet in the oven to preheat also.
Put dry ingredients into large bowl, add egg and buttermilk and mix well.
Carefully pour into hot skillet and bake for 25 minutes.

MARCH

LUNDI GRAS in New Orleans ( the day before Mardi Gras, or 48 days before Easter).

MARDI GRAS in New Orleans. Mardi Gras Day is always 47 days before Easter and the parades begin to roll 12 days before that.

LOUISIANA BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL in New Orleans (1st weekend).

CAJUN FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL in Destrehan.

ST. JOSEPH'S DAY FESTIVITIES in Independence.

AMITE OYSTER FESTIVAL in Amite ( 3rd weekend).

ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE in Slidell.

MARDI GRAS IN NORWOOD in Norwood on Mardi Day.

AUDUBON PILGRIMAGE in St. Francisville (3rd weekend).

IOWA RABBIT FESTIVAL in Iowa, LA

KITE FLYING CONTEST in Lake Charles.

DEEP SOUTH HOBIE REGATTA in Lake Charles.

BOGGY BAYOU FESTIVAL in Pine Prairie.

CAJUN FUN FEST in New Iberia (2nd weekend).

IRISH-ITALIAN PARADE in Houma (St. Patrick's Day).

KLEB GUMBO COOK-OFF AND DANCE in Galliano.

ANNUAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CRAWFISH E'TOUFFE'E COOK-OFF in Eunice.

COURIR DU MARDI GRAS in Eunice (always 47 days before Easter).

LOUISIANA NURSERY FESTIVAL in Forest Hill.

WILD TURKEY FESTIVAL in St. Joseph (2nd Saturday).

COUNTRY CROSSROADS FESTIVAL in Gilliam.

LOUISIANA RED BUD FESTIVAL in Vivian (3rd week).

TASTE OF LOUISIANA FOOD FAIR in Monroe (around Easter).

ZOOBILATION in Monroe (2nd week).

From Easter on is a good time to go to the Many /Toledo Bend Area, to visit Hodges Gardens. South of Many 15 miles on U.S. Hwy. 171 is a perfect blend of natural, landscaped and cultivated gardens set in rolling hills of a 4,700 acre forest.
As far as Toledo Bend goes, the fishing is great, it is one of the best in the nation.

SOUR CREAM- MAYONNAISE BISCUITS

This is one that turned out to be really good and we have tried it many times and they have always turned out great. This recipe will make some real good and quick biscuits that will go good with anything. I really like them with butter and jelly after a meal or for breakfast. Hope you will enjoy this recipe.

2 cups of self-rising flour
1/2 cup of whole milk
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 full tsp. of real mayonnaise (not salad dressing or light mayonnaise).
2 full tsp. of cultured sour cream

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a medium size bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well.
3. For each biscuit drop a medium size ice cream scoop, or heaping tablespoon, of dough onto a large oiled or greased cookie sheet, leaving about two inches between each biscuit.
4. Then bake for 13 to 17 minutes. Or until golden brown on the top.

*Note: Keep the scoop or spoon damp or lightly oiled.