Getting into the carnival spirit for Mardi Gras
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In the Christian calendar Ash Wednesday signals the start of Lent, and the fast that precedes Easter. This year it falls on February 22. The day before, Tuesday February 21, is Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) – the feast before the fast. This is celebrated with rich and sweet foods, ostensibly to use up some of those ingredients before they are put away for the duration. But it is also a chance to indulge before the period of abstinence and reflection.
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Pictured above:Â Mardis Gras Doughnuts from Kaffeehaus by Rick Rodgers
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Grab that frying pan and get set for Pancake Day!
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There is no reason why you shouldn’t join in the pancake flipping if you are vegan, the collection contains a number of recipes for you. And if you are on a gluten-free diet take a look at our Gluten-Free Pancakes collection. A batch of the Bluebird Bakery’s Sunday Morning Pancakes looks very tempting.
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Consuming passions: Doubanjiang
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Beijing-based historian Thomas DuBois has made the vast diversity of China’s food traditions his area of specialist study, and has an upcoming book on the history of food in China. In our latest feature he documents his Consuming Passion: Doubanjiang. The base flavor of Sichuan cuisine, he charts the rich tradition, creation, and culinary use of this complex, hot and salty, fermented bean paste. It adds its fiery, savory depth to traditional dishes such as Yan-Kit So’s Shredded Pork with Fish-Fragrant Sauce.
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But DuBois also tells us just what a difference it can make to a great global range of dishes, such as this Chickpea and Cauliflower Tagine. This is a must read for further understanding of the range of fermented bean pastes and sauces, and includes great cooking and tasting tips.
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What to eat now: savoy cabbage
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There are a great many varieties of cabbage, each lending themselves to varied culinary use. Savoy cabbage, a winter variety with wrinkled leaves and a loose head, is one of the finest brassicas to eat when cooked. The leaves have a delicate flavor and texture, and are full of goodness.
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6 of the best donuts
While getting into the spirit of Mardi Gras, beignets and donuts are not only traditional, but a party right there in the eating. Here are six of the best.
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