Madeline’s First Mardi Gras

This week, we celebrated Mardi Gras, and it felt extra special because it was Madeline’s very first one. It’s funny how this has turned into an annual tradition for us—all because a local bakery advertised king cakes a few years back, and we thought, "Why not?" And now, just like that, we can’t imagine skipping it. It’s something we look forward to every year, and this time, with a baby in the mix, it felt even more festive.

To set the scene, we went all out with decorations. I even added a Mardi Gras flag and switched our house lights to the signature purple, green, and gold. It gave everything a fun, vibrant glow—like our own little New Orleans celebration, but in Utah. Madeline and I got into the spirit with some colorful Mardi Gras garb (yes, we were ready to party), and I cooked up a Cajun feast.

For dinner, I debated between Étouffée and gumbo. Étouffée was my signature dish for February, but to be honest, I haven’t quite mastered it yet, so I played it safe with gumbo. I made two pots—one with shrimp and one with chicken for those who aren’t into seafood. Both versions were a hit. We rounded out the meal with garlic bread, salad, fresh pineapple, and, of course, a king cake. And because I can’t resist a themed dessert, I made some festive Salt & Straw-inspired ice cream—vanilla with green, yellow, and purple sprinkles. Just a little extra Mardi Gras flair.

Our guest list ended up being smaller than expected since Alison’s mom came down with pneumonia, so her parents and grandma had to sit this one out. But we still had a great crew: Jon and Amanda, Kristin and Anna (Skylee was at dance class), and Blake, Meg, and little Goldie. It was especially fun to see Goldie—she’s growing so fast. There’s something about watching kids at family gatherings that makes time feel like it’s moving in double speed.

Speaking of little ones, Madeline had her own food experience at the party. We gave her an orange, and if her reaction is anything to go by, it might just be her new favorite thing. She takes after her dad—she loved it and spent an impressive amount of time carefully munching away. We also had a high chair for Goldie, so both babies were sitting at the end of the table, side by side, taking in the action. It was one of those sweet moments that made me pause and appreciate how special it is to celebrate these traditions with the next generation.

Now, onto the king cake drama (because what’s Mardi Gras without a little king cake controversy?). At our fake Mardi Gras in November, Anna got the baby, which meant she was responsible for bringing the cake this time around. Kristin picked one up from Fillings & Emulsions in SLC, and while it was definitely better than Schmidt’s, I still think my homemade version takes the crown. (But hey, I might be a little biased.) This time, Kristin ended up with the baby, but since Anna wasn’t interested in hosting again next year, she made Kristin pass the responsibility to Alison. So, I guess that means I’ll be making the king cake next year. No complaints here!

All in all, it was a great Mardi Gras. The food was delicious, the company was wonderful, and we kept the tradition alive for another year—this time with Madeline in the mix. Something tells me she’s going to love this holiday as much as we do—after all, laissez les bons temps rouler!