Welcome to my #ActiFry Mardi Gras Party Time recipe!
Doesn’t the photo just want to draw you into the party?
As you um, well, kind of, sorta KNOW by now, I LOVE a party! 
Please don’t worry, I have things under control as I only party on the days that
end in “Y.” 
May I “reacquaint” you with B is for Brazil where Princess Svetlana (of Lucky “Peeking” Peking Pork and Lucky Lemon #Chicken fame) and I used to dress up like Carmen Miranda with fruit baskets on our head?
In case some of my readers “may” not be familiar with Carman Miranda (think I am now aging myself 
; and Princess Svetlana too! ), a picture paints a thousand words they say!
Photo Courtesy of Winnie’s Girl
“What is Mardi Gras and how did it originate?”, “I “hear” you say!
THAT is a very good question you have asked me today!
Did you know Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday?
Mardi Gras celebrations date back to Medieval Europe.
In order to try and keep this simple, combined in these French celebrations was African music and “the now infamous” masquerade tradition that most people associate with Mardi Gras.
In keeping with my simplicity, the Carnival-like celebrations are celebrated in Roman Catholic countries and now throughout the world.
Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday (celebrated in the Roman Catholic community); Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent (40 days and 40 nights where one is supposed to give up something i.e. smoking, wine 
or whatever foods one chooses)
In a “nut-shell” (food pun intended), Fat Tuesday is the last night where people can indulge in “rich fatty foods” before the Lent “fasting” begins.
Now you know why #ActiFry Mardi Gras Party Time is upon you and me!
My name is Joanne aka Joanne aka mickeydownunder aka FANG and I have a confession!
I LOVE my ActiFry! 
“What is an ActiFry?”, “I “hear” some of you say?
You are keeping me on my toes today!
Essentially think of it as a “much healthier” cooking option to deep frying!
When most people think of an ActiFry (or the price), ALL they think the appliance can do is “crisp chips” aka spuds, fries etc.
These were made by me assisted by Chef Georgio as he has a “great chip cutting technique!”
Chef Georgio loves his chips!
Did I mention these chips (1 kilo; ~2.2 pounds) were made with only 1 tablespoon of oil?
I LOVE experimenting with various ingredients, techniques, foods of all world cuisines!
I am almost embarrassed in sharing this VERY easy, healthy recipe with you!
Ready?
Here’s what I did!
- 3 small eggplant
- 4 tablespoons Grey Poupon
- ¾ cups panko crumbs
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- For the Fresh Tomato Sauce
- 6 truss tomaotes
- ½ zucchini (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- pinch of sugar
- ½ carrot finely grated
- herbs of your choice
- Cut eggplant into ½ inch pieces.
- Coat eggplant pieces (both sides) with mustard.
- On a flat tray, coat eggplant pieces with panko crumbs.
- Place coated eggplant on a flat tray; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Place coated eggplant pieces in Actifry; set for 20 minutes or until desired doneness.
- While eggplant is cooking, place ingredients For Fresh Tomato Sauce in a Saucepan; simmer on low for 20 minutes; adjust ingredients to personal taste.
- Pour sauce over eggplant; top with cheese.
- ENJOY!
For the Fresh Tomato Sauce, feel free to use whatever vegetables you have on hand; the sauce recipe is “as a guide” to compliment this ActiFry eggplant.
With my new found ActiFry confidence soaring, it was onto creating this #ActiFry Mardi Gras Party Time Prawn recipe.
No recipe is really an original and I would like to share QueenBea’s Fiery Shrimp (Actifry) via Recipezazz that “inspired” me; adapted for my food lifestyle and creativity!
- 500 grams prawns, cleaned, deveined
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon smoke paprika
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley
- 1 garlic, peeled, minced
- 1 shallot, peeled, finely minced
- zest from 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon additional grapseed oil
- 1 teaspoon desiccated coconut
- spritz balsamic vinegar
- 1 lime wedge (optional)
- 1 umbrella (optional but recommended)
- salad leaves as garnish
- Add all ingredients up to and including lemon zest into a Ziplock bag; add prawns; marinate for up to an hour or overnight.
- Drain prawns from marinade; add to ActiFry; drizzle with additional grapeseed oil.
- Set timer for 10 minutes or until desired doneness.
- Enjoy!
Top with lime zest; this recipe is “as a guide” and is only limited by your imagination.
The recipe is about Party Fun!
Hands up, who would like to try Joanna’s ActiFry Crispy Eggplant with Fresh Tomato Sauce and/or Joanna’s ActiFry Mardi Gras Party Time Prawn Recipe?
Did you celebrate Mardi Gras in any special food way?
Today I am doing something in my post a bit different and would like to Pay It Forward to my friend Sue from A Palatable Pastime who celebrated Mardi Gras by sharing her Mardi Gras Kings Cake
I would also like to brighten the day of my friend Kelly from Wildflour’s Cottage Kitchen sharing her Bacon-Wrapped Peppers with Spinach Artichoke & Blue Cheese Creme!
Kelly posted it as part of her Oscars Party (pre-Mardi Gras) so she wouldn’t forget to post it as like Princess Svetlana, I reckon Kelly and I would love to do the food congo line today….YOU?
Thanks Kelly for “inspiring” me to get this #ActiFry Mardi Gras Party Time Prawn Recipe posted today! 
Do you wish you could dress up like Carmin Miranda (even in your living room) and Chica Chika Boom Chic the day or night away?
PLEASE watch this video, I guarantee you will think of me and Princess Svetlana as we tried to get her poodle to join our congo line with fruit on our head (remember we were in primary school )
If you enjoyed this post, feel free to FOLLOW via Twitter, LIKE via Facebook, SHARED via Google+ and LOVED being PINNED…on Pinterest!
All comments, shares and pins MAKE MY DAY!
I hope you now have an #ActiFry Mardi Gras Party Time Chica Chika Boom Chic smile today!