Happy Mardi Gras y'all! Since today is the last day before Lent, it's the day to enjoy all the comfort foods that are absent from our usual diet or will be no-no's until Easter! So.... It's grilled filet mignon with Thrice Cooked Potatoes, and asparagus. Me, I say that's good, cher! Wishing y'all a Happy Mardi Gras! Today in Rex's parade in New Orleans, the boeuf gras was the second float... ...the fatted calf for the Mardi Gras feast before Lent. The recipe for Thrice Cooked Potatoes (from Joel Dondis, who is now a noted chef in New Orleans and a good friend): Thrice Cooked Potatoes New potatoes, about 3 per person Olive oil Salt and pepper Peal the potatoes, but not too carefully, leaving some skin on. Boil them in salted water until just tender. Drain the potatoes. Add olive oil to an oven-proof skillet to coat and heat. Add potatoes, and cook, turning frequently, until they begin to brown. In the meantime, heat oven on broil. When the potatoes are beginning to brown on all sides, transfer skillet to the oven. (Remove excess oil with a paper towel, if necessary.) Broil until the potatoes brown a little more, cher. Bon appétit!

How fun these are!!! I really like the abstract the best and it does remind me of mardi gra colors like you said. Good job on all three!!!

Lent precedes Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) You’ve got that backwards. Today is Fat Tuesday and tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the kick-off to Lent. My parents met at a Fastnacht party in Germany some 60-something years ago. I first hooked up with my now-wife during Mardi Gras season at a N.O. themed bar/restaurant in Hoboken, NJ 19 years ago. I never thought about that minor coincidence before just now. And now I wish I could figure out a way to swing a small celebration together tonight, but my daughter has two sports and my wife’s been working late, so that might not be feasible. Public Service Announcement - Lent is a perfect time to try out some life changes. The 40-something days is long enough to break a habit and see results, short enough to where you don’t need to dwell on the anxiety of “forever.” You don’t need to be Christian or religious. If you are, great, you can look to it for strength, but it’s a good time slot for everyone.

Not to be catty, but ... ... woodja rather hear an assinine comment off the top o' my head ... or view the ass-o-mine at t'other end? As for the woman on the seashore - would ya rather be sandalized ... or scandalized? (Shoot - don't tell me that the kids took off with the shoe?). o j