How to throw a budget Mardi Gras Party

Thanks to hotel expenses and an aversion to drunk party-goers, many of us take a pass on attending Fat Tuesday celebrations in the Crescent City. With a bit of creativity, you can host a Mardi Gras party on the cheap.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A library card if you need to check out a book with recipes from New Orleans or music from the Delta region
• Baking ware if you are cooking your own cake and food for your guests.
• Party bags if you plan to send your guests home with goodies
• Costumes (purely optional)

1. Prepare the eats. Depending on your region, finding a King Cake may seem impossible. Baking and decorating a cake may seem an equally daunting task. If your ordering cake over the Internet strikes you as less than appetizing, then opt for your basic, made-from-scratch pound cake. Set aside dishes of fresh fruit, candy sprinkles (gold, green, and purple work fine), whipped cream, and small containers of rum or brandy, if your guests choose to pour the beverage over their cakes. Guests can "customize" their slices of pound cake. Here comes the fun part. Tape a number to the back of each serving plate. The guest who pulls the numbered plate is responsible for supplying next year's cake. Check your library for books containing recipes for gumbo, red beans and rice, and other dishes associated with Belle Orleans!

2. What about the tunes? Many of us think of Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino when we think of New Orleans. Remember New Orleans and the Delta region offer a treasury of music including Creole and Cajun waltzes and the blues. Check out CDs at your library. It is never too late to visit a shop that specializes in acoustic, string instruments. Managers can be priceless when you want to know about obscure musicians with staggering talent.

3. Costumes may be as simple as a painted face and wig. Each guest's purse dictates how elaborate his or her costume may be. Let your guests know if some costumes are discouraged because they push the boundaries of good taste.

Tips & Warnings

• You won't be tossing beads or coconuts from a float, but you can offer goody bags to your departing guests. Think small boxes of gourmet chocolates or small containers of mixed, fresh fruit. Don't rule out trial size products of cruelty free body care items sans harsh ingredients.
• Unless your guests intend to walk home in a safe environment, think long and hard about your guests' consumption of booze. When you are cooking, bear in mind if any of your guests are allergic to certain food products. Is any guest on a diet where certain food products are discouraged?

[Delaplane]

on 3/24/2009 Great ideas!