Fat Tuesday.....For a 'Fat Boy' ~ A Horse Tale & Mardi Gras Recipes

Fat Tuesday....how fitting it be the chosen day to put my 'Fat Boy' in lock-down. (sorry about the bad lighting on the photos) I've owned Joey ~ my 19 year old quarter horse gelding for nine years. He is an eatin' machine and if I let him, he'll eat himself to death. He just doesn't stop. When a horse is out on pasture, in the winter, pasture is usually okay as it contains something like 85 or 90% water. But when that sun starts to shine and the days become longer, that winter pasture grass becomes very, very rich....not good for a horse's digestion. If a horse eats too much rich feed or pasture grass he has the potential to founder. Founder (Laminitis) is inflammation of the sensitive lamiae of the feet and can be extremely painful. This usually occurs in one or both of the forefeet. Joey had this happen to him a couple of years ago in all four feet. The vet wrapped all four of his feet, he was restricted to a very strict diet and on medication for a couple of weeks. He was able to go back out on pasture when the grass dried out at the beginning of summer. Every year at the first site of spring, Joey goes into lock-down. For him, this means a stall with a good size turn-out area. He's not particularly happy about this, but it's for his own good. Meanwhile......the heifers are still happy girls out on pasture. Here they are, just a few of them, on the hill behind our house. During the time we were getting Joey set up, Chloe became a bit bored in the house, she has this fascination with destroying pillows ..... __________________________________________ In honor of Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras..... Cocktail......The Hurricane Ingredients Ice cubes 2 ounces light rum 2 ounces dark rum 2 ounces passion fruit juice 2 ounces pineapple juice 1/2 lime, juiced 1 tablespoon grenadine 1 orange, sliced into wheels, for garnish Directions Fill the hurricane glasses with ice. Mix the rums, passion fruit juice, pineapple juice, lime juice, and grenadine in an ice filled shaker. Strain into the hurricane glasses. Garnish with a wheel of orange. Cheers! For Dessert.....Bananas Foster Ingredients 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 6 ripe bananas, peeled, sliced lengthwise and halved 1/4 cup banana liqueur 1/2 cup dark rum 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 pint vanilla ice cream Directions Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar completely dissolves, about 2 minutes. Lay the bananas in the pan and cook on both sides until they become slightly soft and begin to brown, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the banana liqueur and then the rum and cinnamon. Tip the pan slightly and carefully ignite the alcohol with a long kitchen match or kitchen lighter to flambe. Put the pan back on the heat and shake it back and forth basting the bananas, until the flame dies out. Divide the ice cream among dessert bowls. Gently lift the bananas from the pan and place 2 pieces on the ice cream. Spoon the sauce over the ice cream and serve immediately. Enjoy! Happy Tuesday!