Mardi Gras Madness

How will you be spending this most honorable of holidays?

To help get you in the spirit...below is a "Mardi Gras Madness" Quiz. Whoever gets the most questions right will be receiving a traditional King Cake. Individuals may enter once; you may not use any other resources other than your brain. Post your answers here. If there are multiple winners, I will post a tie breaking question. Entries will be taken from 2/16 to 2/20.

(Nope, I'm not kidding. Be sure to include your mailing address)

"LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULE”

1.) Louisiana crawfish come from what type of water? (a) fresh water (b) salt water

2.) While crossing a highway at night, a crawfish sees the headlights of an oncoming car. What will the crawfish likely do as the car approaches? (a) hurry to the other side of the road (b) turn around and go back from where it came (c) get in a defensive position with its claws up -- ready for battle (d) turn away from the bright lights

3.) You're boiling the crawfish. What are you least likely to put in the pot? (a) garlic (b) onions (c) corn (d) potatoes (e) celery (f) cream cheese (g) cayenne pepper (h) beer (i) lemons

4.) You're eating boiled crawfish. Which crawfish do you avoid? (a) the ones with the long antennae (b) the ones with the straight tails (c) the ones that are red in color (d) the ones that are really big.

5.) Which of the following are you not likely to do when eating boiled crawfish? (a) pry them open with a knife (b) pinch the tails (c) suck the heads (d) eat the tails

6.) What time of year are you least likely to have a crawfish boil? (a) Mardi Gras (b) Good Friday (c) Early June (d) Late September.

7.) What are you least likely to put in a gumbo? (a) ground sassafras leaves (b) avocados (c) blue crab bodies (d) andouille (e) okra (f) roux (g) boiled eggs.

8.) What color is a merliton? (a) bright red (b) light yellow (c) light green (d) dark brown

9.) What does "sac-a-lait" mean? (a) a Cajun dance step (b) milk sack (c) crappie (fish) (d) bag of rice (e) both (b) & (c) (f) both (a) & (d).

10.) Which town is the home of the International Rice Festival and the birth of Edwin Edwards' political career? (a) Jennings (b) Ville Platte (c) Rayne (d) Crowley.

11.) A jambalaya must contain what ingredient? (a) sausage (b) shrimp (c) rice (d) tomatoes.

12.) Which of the following is usually served with rice? (a) gumbo (b) etouffee (c) stew (d) all of the above (d) both (a) and (c).

13.) What is the "holy trinity" of ingredients found in virtually every Cajun dish? (a) cayenne pepper, black pepper, and white pepper (b) salt, pepper, and basil (c) onions, bell peppers, and celery (d) flour, water, and oil.

14.) If a Cajun orders a sandwich, he/she is most likely to order what? (a) hogie (b) submarine (c) po-boy (d) a sandwich on rye bread.

15.) In Cajun Louisiana, at what time of year are the least amount of oysters consumed?
(a) spring (b) summer (c) fall (d) winter.

16.) Which one of the following is not considered authentic Cajun food and has only been attributed to be Cajun in recent years? (a) jambalaya (b) blackened fish (c) sauce piquante (d) etouffee.

17.) For good luck and wealth, what should you eat on New Year's Day? (a) jambalaya and white beans (b) gumbo and potato salad (c) cabbage and black-eyed peas (d) fried fish and white beans
18.) What animal is a Cajun least likely to eat? (a) turtle (b) frog (c) squirrel (d) nutria.

19.) What part of the alligator provides the best meat? (a) the legs (b) the back (c) the tail (d) the head.

20.) What is boudin (pronounced "boo-danh")? (a) fish cooked in a spicy tomato sauce (b) a sausage stuffed with rice and meat (c) a Cajun pork stew (d) crawfish in a cheese sauce stuffed into French bread.

21.) What is bouie (pronounced "boo-yee")? (a) knife (b) sandwich (c) custard (d) cake.

22.) What Cajun song is sometimes referred to as the "Cajun National Anthem"? (a) Jolie Blonde (b) Allons a Lafayette (c) La Porte d'en Arrière (d) Colinda.

23.) You're at a Cajun dance and the band plays the "Cajun National Anthem". What type of dance is danced to the music? (a) Cajun two-step (b) Cajun waltz (c) Cajun jitterbug (d) Cajun one-step.

24.) What does "fais-do-do" mean? (a) go to sleep (b) an evening feast (c) a gathering of people for Cajun music and dance (d) both (a) & (b) (e) both (a) & (c).

25.) What is a pirogue? a) Large pot for cooking b) Small wooden boat pointed on both ends
c) A Cajun's front porch d) A Cajun holiday.

Finally, for those of you who really want to get into the spirit...the Mardi Gras Parade will be broadcast at http://www.mardigrasday.com/ on February 20th.