Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”)  is the last day of feasting before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.  Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.   The tradition of the King Cake came to New Orleans with the French settlers around 1870, continuing a custom dating back to twelfth century in France.

History of Mardi Gras King Cake

Hundreds of thousands of King Cakes are eaten during Mardi Gras each year in New Orleans, Louisiana. A Mardi Gras party would not be authentic without the traditional King Cake as the center of the party. The cake is made with a rich Danish dough, baked and covered with a sugar topping in Mardi Gras colors; purple representing justice, green representing faith, and gold representing power. A small plastic baby became the symbol of this Holy Day is placed inside of each King Cake. The New Orleans tradition is that each person takes a piece of cake hoping to find the plastic baby inside. The recipient of the plastic baby is crowned King or Queen for the day and that person host the following year’s party and supplies the King Cake.

TRADITIONAL KING CAKE

Cook: 10 min.; Stand: 5 min.; Rise: 1 hr., 30 min.; Bake: 16 min.

Ingredients

1  (16-ounce) container sour cream

1/4  cup  butter

1/3  cup  sugar

1  teaspoon  salt

2  (1/4-ounce) envelopes active dry yeast

1/2  cup  warm water

1  tablespoon  sugar

2  large eggs, lightly beaten

6  to 6 1/2 cups bread flour

1/3  cup  Softened butter

1/2  cup  sugar

1 1/2  teaspoons  ground cinnamon

Creamy Glaze*

Green, purple, and gold-tinted sparkling sugar sprinkles

Cook first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts.

Set aside, and cool mixture to 100° to 110°.

Stir together yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a 1-cup glass measuring cup; let stand 5 minutes.

Beat sour cream mixture, yeast mixture, eggs, and 2 cups flour at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until smooth. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add enough remaining flour (4 to 4 1/2 cups) until a soft dough forms.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top.

Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough is doubled in bulk.

Punch down dough, and divide in half. Roll each portion into a 22- x 12-inch rectangle. Spread 1/3 cup softened butter evenly on each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border. Stir together 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle evenly over butter on each rectangle.

Roll up each dough rectangle, jelly-roll fashion, starting at 1 long side. Place one dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bring ends of roll together to form an oval ring, moistening and pinching edges together to seal. Repeat with second dough roll.

Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 20 to 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Bake at 375° for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden. Slightly cool cakes on pans on wire racks (about 10 minutes). Drizzle Creamy Glaze evenly over warm cakes; sprinkle with colored sugars, alternating colors and forming bands. Let cool completely.

Cream Cheese-Filled King Cake: Prepare each 22- x 12-inch dough rectangle as directed. Omit 1/3 cup softened butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Increase 1/2 cup sugar to 3/4 cup sugar. Beat 3/4 cup sugar; 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened; 1 large egg; and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on each dough rectangle, leaving 1-inch borders.

Creamy Glaze*

3  tablespoons  butter, melted

3  cups  powdered sugar

1/4  teaspoon  vanilla extract

2  tablespoons  fresh lemon juice

2  to 4 tablespoons milk

Honor the Presidents of our country with a patriotic parfait.  Pick up strawberry jello, blueberry and cool whip at the grocery store. And celebrate the Presidents with your kids.  Have a prize for the kid that knows the most about our countries great leaders.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 6 hours

Ingredients

1  4-oz. package red, flavored instant gelatin (such as cherry or strawberry Jello)
40  blueberries
1 tub of cool whip

Make Jello as directed, chill for at least 4 hours.  Spoon 1/4 cup Jello into each glass. Then spoon in 1/4 cup cool whip over Jello and smooth tops. Slowly spoon 1/4 cup Jello over cool whip in each cup (you will use up Jello) and chill until firm, 2 hour.  Top with final layer of cool whip. Divide blueberries among parfaits and serve.

Photo Credit: Southern Living

This  popular cake is often prepared in a special almond cake pan.  Easy and delicious this American-Scandinavian tradition is perfect for get-together this holiday.

Scandinavian Almond Cake

Spray pan with Pam or Cooking Spray

Beat well:

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract

2/3 cups milk

Add together:

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Add:

1 stick melted margarine

Mix well.  Before pouring batter into the pan you may add sprinkled sliced almonds on the bottom. Bake at 350 for 40 to 60 minutes.  Edges must be golden brown.  Cool in pan before removing, about 10 to 15 minutes.  Sprinkle with confectionary sugar.

Photo Credit:  Lifse Time