Free Printable Mardi Gras Cootie Catcher / Fortune Teller

Free Printable Mardi Gras Cootie Catcher / Fortune Teller by B.Nute productions

It's Mardi Gras time! That means delicious foods - beignets, pralines, jambalaya, po'boys, and king cake. It means potent drinks like chicory coffee and Hurricanes. And, it definitely means great party fun like beads, masks, parades, balls and more!

Printable Mardi Gras TicTacToe Game

Printable Mardi Gras TicTacToe Game by B.Nute productions

Who doesn't love a good game of TicTacToe? Here's a festive Mardi Gras themed TicTacToe game-- perfect to pull out for after school fun, and or on Mardi Gras night, perhaps while sipping your Hurricane and eating Gumbo?!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Printable Mardi Gras TicTacToe Game by B.Nute productions

Instructions for Printing Your Mardi Gras TicTacToe Game

1. Select link above and print out from your browser. Use card stock to give the game cards some weight.

2. Cut each game card out and markers

3. Pick a partner and start to play!

Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

Our Mardi Gras at home party, several years ago!

Mardi Gras is here! Are you ready for the fun? Even if you're not in N'Orleans right now in the midst of the revelry... and/or if you're not heading to a Mardi Gras Party.... why not have a little celebration at home? Here's a simple recipe for an at-home Mardi Gras Party:

The Big Easy Soundtrack on Amazon

Tunes - A Mardi Gras Party isn't complete without some great zydeco tunes! I'm sure there are many, many incredible cajun/zydeco albums available, but one of my favorites I've had for some time is the "Big Easy Movie Soundtrack." There's "Iko Iko" on it, as well as cajun greats, Buckwheat Zydeco, BeauSoleil and the Neville Brothers. Hey even Dennis Quaid has a tune on it!

Pat O'Brien's famous Hurricane Cocktail

Food and Drinks - Fortunately, for those of us who aren't from the South, and can't whip up étouffée to save our souls, we are so fortunate to have brands like Zatarian's with all sorts of easy, and I must say good New Orelans Style dishes-- including Jambalya, Dirty Rice, Gumbo and more. Yum.

As for drinks, it is imperative that you mix up some Hurricanes. Using the recipe from Pat O'Brien's will make folks think you are even more of an expert! Here is the recipe from What's Cooking America:

Hurricane Cocktail Recipe

1 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
4 ounces dark rum
4 ounces passion fruit syrup
Crushed ice
Orange and/or lime slice
1 Maraschino Cherry

In a cocktail shaker, add lemon juice, rum, passion fruit syrup, and crushed ice; shake vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes.

Strain into a tall glass or hurricane cocktail glass.

Garnish with an orange and/or lime slices and a maraschino cherry.

Makes 1 serving.

Make Masks - Mardi Gras is not complete without some masks and beads! Head to the local party store and pick up some beads to toss around the dinner table. Make a game of it... the funniest joke gets beads, the best smile, the silliest face, etc. Also, don't forget to make some masks. See B.Nute productions Free Printable Masquerade Masks-- the perfect template to print out, decorate and wear!

Let the good times roll! Happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras Invitations Featured in Invitation Buzz

Laissez les bon temps rouler!!

My Mardi Gras Invitations on my etsy site have gotten some press on Invitation Buzz.

Today it is featured on their home page:

Screen shot of Home Page of Invitation Buzz

Here's the full write up-- check it out!

Screenshot from Full write up

I'm sure the streets of N'Orleans are going to be crazy this year...

with the Saints Superbowl victory.

If you're going, have a blast!

If you're at home, still have a great Mardi Gras,

and let the good times roll.

Hurray for Mardi Gras Day!

A day where indulgence is OK... now that's a good day! Even though I'm far away from the action-- I still love to celebrate Mardi Gras. In past years I've watched great bands, and drunk many hurricanes to celebrate the day... but in more recent years, with the kid's school day typically looming the following day, things have become a bit more tame. So, less hurricanes, but still lots of fun.


Every year we make masks for our dinner celebration. It's great to see how the masks are improving year after year.

And then there's the Mardi Gras meal... OK, I have to admit, I do make these above... I doctor them with veggies and meats. Even though they're not the real thing, it does a pretty good job. (My brother-in-law's family is from creole country-- his mother makes and AMAZING etoufee, yum!)

So, in honor of Mardi Gras this year, I thought I'd make my first Mardi Gras decoration-- a mask garland.
Once I started getting into the project, it really made me want to create a Masquerade Ball Party Kit... I hope to get to that one day in the future.

Enjoy the pics below, and have a great Mardi Gras!

King Cake - Three Kings Day or Mardi Gras?

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day... the day the 3 kings arrived to honor baby Jesus on the 12th day of Christmas. It is also the beginning of the King Cake "season." The season runs from the day of the Epiphany through to Mardi Gras.

The King Cake is a pretty cool cake. I mean, what other cake actually has a season? It also is a very cool cake because a trinket is baked inside it, and the person who's piece of cake has the trinket gets to be King or Queen for the day. (She may also have the duty of hosting the following years party, and/or bringing the King Cake the following year... this may or may not be seen as a priviledge!)

There are many traditions surrounding a King Cake. I've done a little research in the past, since a French friend was very certain the cake was only eaten on the Epiphany, while I clearly remembered my friend from Louisiana ranting and raving about King Cakes at Mardi Gras time. Either way, both were right.

So, to honor Three Kings Day, I say, let's make cake! The picture above is from a King Cake I made with my kids. Lots of messy fun.

Below are some url's to sites with king cake recipes and folklore. Enjoy the tradition!
Wikipedia's Definition of King Cake
King Cake Recipe and Short Story