King Cake

Mardi Gras/Carnival season officially began on January 6th or the “Twelfth Night,” also known to Christians as the “Epiphany,” and culminates on Tuesday, February 21st – a day affectionately known as “Fat Tuesday”. While there are many traditional Mardi Gras dishes to enjoy during this time of feasting and revelry leading up to Lent, none is quite so ubiquitous as the king cake.

The rich history of the king cake dates all the way back to the Middle Ages with the first known king cakes baked in Europe in celebration of the Catholic Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day on January 6th. The French brought the cake with them to the Gulf Coast region of the United States in the 1870s, and it has since become synonymous with American celebrations of Mardi Gras. The first Mardi Gras celebration in America took place in 1703 when a group of French soldiers held an impromptu celebration in the settlement of Mobile, Alabama.

While there are many regional variations, Mardi Gras king cakes found in most American bakeries are traditionally crown-shaped brioche-style confections decorated in royal colors of purple, green, and gold representing justice, faith, and power, respectively. They also typically contain a token of good fortune hidden within the cake, bestowing the recipient with luck and prosperity and the responsibility of providing the king cake for the next year’s festivities. This token is often represented as a bean, pea, or plastic baby.

You’ll find many of the ingredients needed to prepare your own Mardi Gras king cake in our weekly sale from February 16th – 22nd, so it’s a perfect time to give this traditional treat a try!

Jambalaya

Jambalaya is a dish that brings together West African, French, and Spanish influences all into one colorful, flavorful dish. It’s popular fare during the Mardi Gras/Carnival season that culminates on “Fat Tuesday” which falls on February 21st this year. Our weekly sale from February 16th – 22nd celebrates the traditional flavors of Mardi Gras, so it’s a perfect time to try this one-pot comfort food wonder!

Chili

The Big Game is upon us and regardless of your sports fan status, we think you’ll love this hearty chili recipe. It’s a simple, one-pot meal that features a handful of ingredients from the weekly sale display from February 8th – 14th, so it’s easy on the budget. Using dried beans requires a little more advanced preparation (soaking) and a longer cooking time, but dried beans are much more economical and the longer cook time allows a deep, rich flavor to develop. Cook up an extra-large pot and freeze the leftovers for a busier weeknight. You’ll be so glad you did!

Moroccan Chicken Tagine

Take your tastebuds on a trip to Morocco with this chicken tagine recipe! You’ll find the ingredients featured in our Weekly Sale from February 2nd – 8th and the authentic, Inclusive Trade Mina Tagine Sauce cuts the hands-on prep time down to only 15 minutes, making this one quick enough for a weeknight meal! The word tagine refers both to this traditional Moroccan meal and also to the traditional clay or ceramic vessel with a domed or conical-shaped lid in which the stew is often cooked. Since most of us do not have a tagine on hand, this recipe offers a way to prepare this delicious dish using a Dutch oven or similar vessel.

Moroccan Vegetable Tagine

Our weekly sale from February 2nd – 8th celebrates Moroccan cuisine and we think you’ll love this warm, hearty vegetable tagine that can easily be pulled together using ingredients from the weekly sale. The word tagine refers both to this traditional Moroccan meal and also the traditional clay or ceramic vessel with a domed or conical-shaped lid in which the stew is often cooked. Since most of us do not have a tagine on hand, this recipe offers a way to prepare this delicious dish using a heavy pot or Dutch oven.

Chicken Tagine

Take your tastebuds on a trip to Morocco with this chicken tagine recipe! You’ll find the ingredients featured in our Weekly Sale from February 2nd – 8th and the authentic, Inclusive Trade Mina Tagine Sauce cuts the hands-on prep time down to only 15 minutes, making this one quick enough for a weeknight meal! The word tagine refers both to this traditional Moroccan meal and also to the traditional clay or ceramic vessel with a domed or conical-shaped lid in which the stew is often cooked. Since most of us do not have a tagine on hand, this recipe offers a way to prepare this delicious dish using a Dutch oven or similar vessel.

Quebecois Poutine

Want to take your tastebuds on a trip to Montreal without having to cross the border? These fries should hit the spot! Our Weekly Sale from January 26th – February 1st honors Quebecois Poutine with a lineup of mostly local ingredients to help you whip up a batch of this classic comfort food. Our Co-op Kitchen team even pre-made the poutine gravy for you in advance, so all you’ll need to do is transform local Burnt Rock Farm potatoes into fries and top them with Bridport Creamery cheese curds and a generous helping of the gravy!

Pork Dumplings

If you find pork dumplings from your favorite take-out spot irresistible, just wait until you taste this homemade version! Pork dumplings, or jiaozi, are the quintessential dish of Lunar New Year celebrations and these have everything you want in a dumpling: plump and nicely chewy, filled with tender pork, flavored with fresh ginger, green onion, and sesame oil. Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie, Korean Seollal, Tibetan Losar, and Spring Festival all describe the celebration that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon, 15 days later. This year, many will hold celebrations on Sunday, January 22nd. The Lunar New Year festival is thousands of years old, and today nearly 25% of the world’s population participates in this celebration.

Because of their resemblance to gold ingots, making and eating dumplings during Lunar New Year celebrations is a way to express wishes of prosperity and fortune in the coming year. Making dumplings is also a group effort, so Lunar New Year celebrations are good times to get the whole family involved in making — and eating! — several batches. Whether you’re celebrating the Lunar New Year or stocking your freezer for a busy month ahead, these dumplings should definitely be on your list. You’ll find many of the ingredients in our Lunar New Year-themed weekly sale from January 19th – 25th, so it’s a perfect time to give them a try!

Dumpling Wrappers

Making your own dumpling wrappers at home might sound intimidating, but there’s really nothing to it! With just flour, water, and a few simple steps, you’ll be rolling out wrappers like a pro! Our Weekly Sale from January 19th – 25th celebrates the culinary traditions of the Lunar New Year, celebrated on Sunday, January 22nd this year. Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie, Korean Seollal, Tibetan Losar, and Spring Festival all describe the celebration that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon, 15 days later. The Lunar New Year festival is thousands of years old, and today nearly 25% of the world’s population participates in this celebration. Pork dumplings, or jiaozi, are the quintessential dish of Lunar New Year celebrations and you’ll find many of the items needed to make a batch featured in the Weekly Sale, making it a perfect time to give this dish a try! You’ll find the pork dumpling recipe at our Weekly Sale display or on our blog and this dumpling wrapper recipe will help you craft the perfect vehicle for your dumplings!

Cucumber Raita

Cucumber raita is a popular side dish in Indian cuisine, made with yogurt, cucumber, herbs, and spices. Usually served alongside boldly spiced curries, it helps cool and cleanse the palette in between bites. Our Weekly Sale from January 12th – 18th celebrates the culinary traditions of Makar Sankranti, which is a Hindu observance and festival celebrated on January 15th this year. Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius (dhanu) to Capricorn (makara). Since the Sun is regarded to have moved from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere on this day in the Hindu calendar, the festival is dedicated to the solar deity, Surya, and is observed to mark a new beginning. Makar Sankranti is observed across India with festivals, fairs, ceremonial swims in sacred waters, dances, kite flying, bonfires, and feasts of traditional Indian fare such as this raita, which pairs nicely with the khichdi recipe that you’ll also find on our blog and at the Weekly Sale display!

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