COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY! and Foodbuzz 24,24,24: MARDI GRAS in the Cul de Sac Prep Day

I'm CRACKING UNDER THE PRESSURE! 'Course when you are on the edge of sanity to begin with it doesn't take much. The good news, my proposal to take part in the 24,24,24 FOODBUZZ challenge was accepted. The better news... I get to spend the day (actually add a few hours earlier in the week to pickle pork) cooking Cajun! In my ongoing efforts to convince you all (and maybe just a little myself) that the suburbs of Kansas City is hip and happening in a far out way, my neighborhood is celebrating Mardi Gras in the Cul de Sac! Counting drinks, 13 menu items, to feed 10 people... Laissez les bons temps rouler indeed!

And what a timely opportunity for my blog. Not only is Fat Tuesday coming quickly (February 16th, the official end of Mardi Gras season). But tomorrow night, the New Orleans Saints are playing for a birth in this year's Super Bowl! And don't you know that if the Saints make it, Cajun food will be everywhere for Superbowl parties! I mean no disrespect to the city of Indianapolis, but, if I were planning a party, what exactly is the cuisine of Indy???

So, I have a million things to do right now. I've made my plans, set my menu, done my shopping and I am ready to let the good times rock and roll!

But first, I want to announce a terrific give away contest... Arnaud's restaurant in New Orleans is everything you could ask for in a dining experience. Incredible food, professional staff, historic location and a BEAUTIFUL COOKBOOK you can buy as a souvenir. Or, win one in a contest.

I love this book. Hardbound with slipcover, 225 pages, filled with not only recipes that have made the restaurant famous, but also chock full of photos (mostly color) and stories of the restaurant and the city. Divided into chapters of foods from SPECIAL OCCASIONS, oysters, HORS d'OEUVRES, soups and salads, BRUNCH, seafood, MEAT AND POULTRY... But also the Casual Side of Creole Cooking, COCKTAILS, sauces and stocks AND BEAUTIFUL DESSERTS! Not everyone will make the Oysters Rockefeller or the Escargots en Casserole (the fancy stuff), but if you have a hint of Cajun in your soul, you will want to try everything in their Casual Side of Creole Cooking chapter. Gumbo and meat pies, Red Beans and Rice and Po-boys... all explained in the "Arnaud's" tradition. This is a brand new book, sent right from Arnaud's restaurant!

For your chance to win,
all you need to do is state in a comment on this post that you will cook something, anything from the book and blog the results.

Bloggers' honor, The blog police will not shut you down if you win and decide to not post anything, but I would like to see the book get used at least once (and maybe if you fall in love with it, more than once. So, just make a comment, tell me specifically that you will give a recipe a try and you to can... Laissez les bons temps rouler indeed!

If you don't specifically say you will cook something from it, I assume you are being friendly when you comment, but you will not be eligible for the contest. In a week, I will use Random.org to select a winner.

And oh yeah, the photo above is of Arnaud's Pommes Souffle' (puffy potato french fries). I considered making these for the party, but they are a bit labor intensive, and it would take more than an hour hands on to make enough for the party. But, for a couple people, while you are waiting for a PASTA CAKE to finish baking they would be a great addition to any meal. Fanciest French fry you will ever eat, and just a small sample fo the recipes from the book!

And finally, I had the pleasure of dining at Arnaud's this last year. It was my favorite dining experience of my vacation... Check out my post, My MOST UNEXPECTED Night in New Orleans - ARNAUD's RESTAURANT.

And if you get to New Orleans, check out Arnaud's Restaurant,

ask for Aaron!