Living in Louisiana has it’s ups and downs but I must say one of my favorite things about this state is Mardi Gras! I’m a Mama now so the drunken craziness in NOLA doesn’t appeal to me but the family friendly food, parades, and festivals statewide are a blast!
To celebrate Mardi Gras I made a Cajun inspired Beer Cheese Dip.
I used local Abita beer, Louisiana favorite: Andouille sausage, and
Cajun spices and Louisiana hot sauce! Finally I served them with festive
Mardi Gras chips from my local grocery store! Fun and colorful just like Mardi Gras!
I used local Abita beer, Louisiana favorite: Andouille sausage, and
Cajun spices and Louisiana hot sauce! Finally I served them with festive
Mardi Gras chips from my local grocery store! Fun and colorful just like Mardi Gras!
As is the slogan of Mardi Gras: Laissez les bons temps rouler (Let the good times roll)!
Last year, Ashton and I took Ava to Natchitoches, LA, a small river front
college town about an hour away. Natchitoches is best known for where the
film Steel Magnolias was based and filmed. My girl was still an
itty bitty baby and even with all the music and noise she SLEPT through
the entire parade and half of dinner afterwards! But we still had fun
celebrating her first Mardi Gras and our first Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade.
college town about an hour away. Natchitoches is best known for where the
film Steel Magnolias was based and filmed. My girl was still an
itty bitty baby and even with all the music and noise she SLEPT through
the entire parade and half of dinner afterwards! But we still had fun
celebrating her first Mardi Gras and our first Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade.
Ava in her Mardi Gras outfit last year and me modeling all the beads I caught!
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| My cutie all bundled up with her Daddy Mardi Gras 2013 |
This year, my mom is visiting so we are going to Lake Charles, LA, another town about an hour away. This Sunday they have a children’s festival and Children’s Mardi Gras Parade and then a boat parade later in the evening. View info on the events here: http://www.swlamardigras.com/events/ .
Mardi Gras Cajun Beer Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 8 oz Philadelphia cream cheese softened and cubed
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp flour
- 7-8 oz Andouille sausage chopped (about 1/2 a package)
- 1 bottle Abita beer I used Purple Haze
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning I used Tony Chachere's
- 1/2 tsp or more to taste Hot sauce ( I used Louisiana brand)
- Tortilla chips or crusty bread for dipping
Instructions
- In a skillet add sausage and cook until crispy (the sausage should be already cooked).
- Remove to a paper towel lined plate and drain.
- In a large saucepan add cubed cream cheese and beer. Heat over medium, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Toss shredded cheese with flour and then mix into the cream cheese mixture until melted.
- Finally add seasonings and hot sauce and remove from heat.
- Stir in sausage and serve warm.
- Serve with tortilla chips or crusty French bread for dipping.
To add to the Cajun part of this dip I added chopped Andouille sausage.
It’s already precooked so you just have to heat it and crisp it up for a few minutes before adding it to the dip.
Crisp up the sausage in the skillet for a few minutes then drain to a paper towel lined plate.
You have to have beer for Beer Cheese Dip! I used local Abita beer as the base and mix with cubed cream cheese. Everything’s better with cheese!
Toss the shredded cheese with flour and then add to the saucepan.
Stir until melted.
Add hot sauce, garlic powder, and Cajun seasoning and then remove from heat.
Finally, mix in sausage.
All done and ready to serve!
Creamy and with a kick, this dip is sure to be a hit!
Serve with tortilla chips or crusty bread for dipping.
Don’t you love these fun Mardi Gras chips I found at my grocery store?!
Happy Mardi Gras!
Girl, we made the move to the Northshore when we had kids to get away from the “craziness” too lol, but we only live 10 minutes from the Abita Beer Brewery so I AM TRYING THIS RECIPE THIS WEEKEND!! Imagine how good it’s going to be with FRESH Abita beer! So glad I found this little gem – and your blog! Laissez les bon temps rouler!