Jan 28, 2013

Mardi Gras Menu 2 {Corn Maque Choux Dip}

It's always fun to see the reaction of first-time visitors to the Cajun Mardi Gras--the Courir de Mardi Gras--since it is unlike what most people think of as Mardi Gras.

New Orleans style Mardi Gras is largely a spectator's event.  Parades flow through city streets for the public to enjoy.  Crowds watch, listen, and beg for all that Mardi Gras loot.  They are rewarded with "throws" such as beads, cups and doubloons.

Cajun Mardi Gras is primarily for those who are part of the procession.  The Mardi Gras (which is what the costumed participants are called) disperse as a group through rural areas--dressed in fantastic costumes and often on horseback, begging for money and ingredients (the highlight being live chickens) for a community gumbo.  Part of their begging involves performing songs and entertaining the landowners who provide the ingredients.  So in this type of Mardi Gras, it's the participants who beg rather than the crowd.  Over the past several years, Cajun Mardi Gras has changed a little.  More and more spectators follow the procession to watch the mischief and mayhem.  And that's fun and all, but I promise you the Mardi Gras are having much more fun.

More information on the history and traditions of the Courir de Mardi Gras 

Since I'm doing the Cajun Mardi Gras thing today, let's have some Cajun food.

Corn Maque Choux (recipe HERE) is one of my favorite Cajun side dishes.  Mardi Gras isn't exactly a sit-down-meal type of event, so I turned this dish into a dip.

It's full of corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, and onions.  Spicy and creamy.
We ate it with crackers, but it would be equally good with tortilla chips.

Mardi Gras Trivia:
Know what these are?

How about now?

These are capuchons.
The "hats" worn by Cajun Mardi Gras, designed to poke fun at nobility.  Capuchons are part of the traditional costume which also includes decorated screen masks.

The Husband has started making traditional screen Mardi Gras masks. He made these for the three of us and currently has claimed the living room as his workshop.  He's making more and plans to sell them.

This is my mask, to go with my chicken-print costume.  This is the most awesome Mardi Gras mask I've ever seen. Which is my completely unbiased opinion.

The costumes are often brightly colored, full of fringe to make them look tattered -these are beggars after all.  Many of the costumes have bells attached, making for a loud procession across the countryside.
Dancing with a random person at a recent Courir
staged at Vermilionville in Lafayette, LA


The Husband said I should run Mardi Gras this year before I "get too old to do it."
I assured him that I have many good years still ahead of me.
Many good years.  M--A--A--A--N--Y good years.

Long story short...I'm running Mardi Gras this year.


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Corn Maque Choux Dip

2 Tbsp butter
1/4 c finely chopped onion
1/4 c finely chopped bell pepper, reserve some for the top
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 roma tomatoes, chopped, reserve some for the top
1 (14.75 oz) can cream style corn
1 tsp Tony's Creole seasoning
2-3 shakes hot sauce
4 oz (half a brick) of cream cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 c fresh or frozen corn kernels, reserve some for the top
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese


Melt the butter in a saucepan.  When the butter is foamy, add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic.  Saute over medium low until soft and the onion is clear.  Add the tomato with any juices and saute a couple of minutes more.  Add the cream style corn, Tony's, hot sauce, cream cheese, and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Simmer on low until the cream cheese has melted and the mixture is heated through.  Stir in the corn kernels and Parmesan cheese and heat until bubbly.

Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with reserved corn, tomato, and bell pepper.
Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.  Makes about 3 cups.

Linking with:


Mixitup
Photobucket  Hearth and Soul blog hop at Premeditated Leftovers
Love Bakes Good Cakes
Nap-Time Creations
Back for Seconds
White Lights on Wednesdays
Recipe Box
Miz Helen’s Country Cottage Photobucket Gallery of Favorites
BWS tips button Freedom Fridays
Memories by the Mile
{Country} Life with a Front Porch View
Jam Hands Feeding Big

13 comments:

  1. The dip sounds wonderful. Your version of Mardi Gras sounds much more fun than the New Orleans version.

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  2. That sounds like so much fun, Michelle :) Your dip sounds wonderful too! Pinned!

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but the correct way to say this is "mock shoo"?

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  3. The dip sounds to die for and what fun! Those costumes are gorgeous!

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  4. Hi there - a friend of mine from facebook recommended your page to me and I am so glad she did. I am writing a post about Cajun food and have some recipes for it, but was missing one for a King Cake. I was told you were the lady to go to! I am so glad I came to your page! Do you have one you would be willing to share? I will be putting the recipe and your photo(s) in a post, with your permission, that will be written for a new online magazine - Daily Dish. I will also be using some of the recipes for my own blog http://Feeding Big.com
    I look forward to hearing from you. You can leave a message on my blog and I will get back to you. Also, I am having a link party - In and Out of the Kitchen, I would love it if you would like up some of your wonderful Cajun dishes! Thanks

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  5. Michelle, just love the look of this corn dish. Did you link it in to Food on friday: Corn yet? Hope you are having a good week.

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  6. I am so happy you brought this wonderful dish by In and Out of the Kitchen link party! I love Cajun food and will be making this dish!

    Thanks Cynthia at http://FeedingBig.com

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  7. Anonymous1/30/2013

    I am back with another married child. Tired and happy are the best words to describe the state I am in.

    I love corn in almost any way so I must make this. Thanks for sharing it. I hope to start linking again, next week.

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  8. That dip sounds fabulously creamy cheesy addictive!

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  9. Love the idea of maque chou dip! Brilliant, and I can't wait to try it! And the masks are awesome! Your hubby is very talented and should definitely sell them. Can't wait to see the pics of your Mardi Gras run. Have fun, cher!

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  10. What a delicious looking corn dip! I want to dig right in!! Those masks are amazing and the run sounds like so much fun!!!

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  11. Love your dip and thank you for giving us an inside view of the Mardi Gras on foodie friday.

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  12. Hi Michelle,
    I just love your post and that dip will just be fabulous! Have a great week and thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  13. I love your mask, Michelle, it's beautiful! Your husband has a real mask-making talent! I hope you enjoyed running Mardi Gras this year. I was so interested to learn the difference between the New Orlean's Mardi Gras and the Cajun Mardi Gras. Your dip looks so colourful and delicious. I love the sound of it. I've pinned it to try for our next party.

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