Toasting a Glass or Three to Fat Tuesday

What Mardi Gras Party can be complete without a little “spirit”? We’ve got the food, now let’s talk cocktails. From Lemonade to Jell-o Shots and big bowls of purple punch, we’ve got it all covered. So just pick your poison, or do them all!

The Cajun Lemonade really isn’t just for Mardi Gras. It’s Lemonade with a kick, from the light rum to the shots of Louisiana Hot Sauce. While this is great to have at an open bar, it’s also great for next fall’s tailgate party. Just put the lemonade in empty, well washed milk cartons for transportation. Add the Club soda when served, and there you go.

Cajun Lemonade
4 cups Light Rum
2 (12 oz) cans Frozen Lemonade Concentrate, thawed
2 teaspoons Louisiana Hot Sauce or to taste
1 (liter) bottle Club Soda, chilled
1 Lemon, sliced into rounds for garnish
Handful Mint leaves, optional garnish

In a large pitcher, stir together the rum, lemonade and hot sauce. Chill well. Add crushed ice to highball glasses. Pour each glass half-full with the spiked lemonade, fill the rest of the way with club soda.

Garnish with lemon wheels and mint leaves if desired.

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What is Mardi Gras without a King Cake, right? How ’bout a King Cake Martini made with Cake Vodka and Amaretto – yum!

King Cake Martini
2 oz Chila ‘Orchata (Cinnamon Rum)
2 oz Pinnacle Cake Vodka
1 oz Licor 43
1 oz Amaretto di Amore
Water to wet rim of Glass
Green Sugar Crystals

Pour liquor over ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake well.

Wet the rim of a martini glass. Pour sugar into onto a plate. Line the rim of the glass with sugar.

Strain martini, pour into the prepared glass and serve.

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Watch out for Jell-o shots, they can pack a punch that will sneak up on you before you know what hit you. With Vodka and whipped cream, it’s like a dessert that smacks you silly.

Mardi Gras Jell-o Shots
3 oz Purple Jell-o (Grape)
3 oz Yellow Jell-o (Lemon)
3 oz Green Jell-o (Lime)
3 cups Boiling Water
6 oz Vodka
Whipping Cream
Candy Sprinkles

Create three different colors of jell-o by combining 1 cup of boiling water for each of the three colors. Stir well, allow to cool. Work in batches, creating purple first, then yellow and finally green.

Once cooled, add 2 ounces of vodka into each color of jell-o. Stir again.

Into shot glasses, pour the purple (grape) layer into the base of the glass, filling about a third of the way. Place in the refrigerator to harden.

Repeat with yellow (lemon), then green (lime).

Once all three colors are set, top the shot glasses with whipped cream and sprinkles

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The nice thing about punch is that it’s really self-serve. If you are having a full-blown party rather than just a few people over for a nice Fat Tuesday supper, a punch bowl in Mardi Gras colors might just be the way to go. Besides, it’s a nice excuse to get out the bowl other than Christmas Eggnog.

Mardi Gras Punch
1 (liter) bottle Lemon-Lime Soda such as Sprite or 7-Up
1 (liter) bottle Grape Soda
1 pint Light Rum, or as desired
2 Lemons
2 Limes

Pour sodas into a punch bowl. Add rum to reach desired “kick”, a little or a lot.

Thinly slice lemons and limes. Float slices in the punch. If desired, garnish punch glasses with slices of citrus fruit.

Note: For a non-alcoholic punch, simply eliminate the rum and it’s kid-friendly. If desired, replace the rum with some pineapple juice.

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Happy Fat Tuesday Everyone!