Mardi Gras

It’s no surprise that red beans and rice is one of the dishes most strongly associated with the enchanting city of New Orleans, also called “The Big Easy.” It’s delicious, nutritious, easy to prepare and happily inexpensive.

Next Tuesday, March 1, is Mardi Gras. This calls for a celebration, and in true New Orleans fashion, everyone’s invited. “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday,” the last day to indulge before Ash Wednesday, which begins the abstinence and fasting of Lent.