It’s Fat Tuesday, and if you’re anything like me, perhaps you’re hoping to enjoy one last binge before renouncing the devil and all his empty carbohydrates. But there’s a problem: you’re a raging introvert. You prefer being alone. In fact, you’d rather be flogged at dawn than spend a minute of your evening in a noisy, drunken crowd.
No matter. You can still celebrate Mardi Gras. Just remember that quality is more important than quantity, and you’ll be set.
Fat Tuesday is all about excess, and when it’s cold and wintry and miserable outside, nothing says excess like organic vodka from Kazakhstan. So buy yourself a bottle of Snow Queen and enjoy just a tiny bit.
The same principle of embracing excess applies to your dishes. Are your tea cups edged in 24K gold? Have they been treasured by three generations of your family? Do they go for months at a time without being used? Do yourself a favor and use them today. They’ll take forever to wash, but you’ll feel splendid and grateful afterward.
Now is also the time to polish the silver. Seriously. Otherwise, when are you ever going to use it?
You’ll want decadent pastries for your celebration. In Scandinavian cultures, it’s traditional on Shrove Tuesday to eat semla, which are wheat buns served with almond paste and whipped cream. In my opinion, anything involving almond paste and whipped cream is a good idea. Instead of semla, I make sandbakkels, tiny Norwegian shortbread tarts with almond flavoring. I top them with berries and whipped cream.
You’ll also want some healthy leftovers for the next day, regardless of whether you’re observing Lent. So hunt down a really good loaf of bread, a nice selection of olives, and your favorite cheese.
And that pretty much covers it. Take a deep breath, and enjoy your quietly decadent holiday with your loved ones, a few friends, or all by yourself.
What? You want some silly Mardi Gras beads as well? Please don’t cheapen yourself with mass-produced plastic baubles that signify female degradation. Instead, visit Sisters United and buy a few of their handmade bracelets and necklaces. Support the Ugandan women who make them. After all, the best kind of excess is having enough to share.
