Celebrate Fat Tuesday today, March 8

 

The Traditions Of Mardi Gras  

The history of a Mardi Gras celebration existed many years before Europeans ... The origin of "Fat Tuesday" is believed to have come from the ancient Pagan ...
www.novareinna.com/festive/mardi.html

Photo by: Taste of Home

Traditional New Orleans King Cake Recipe

From Taste of Home

Get in on the fun of the King Cake. Hide a little toy baby in the cake and whoever finds it has one year of good luck! Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah

Rate Traditional New Orleans King Cake Recipe

12 Servings  Prep: 40 min. + rising Bake: 25 min. + cooling

Ingredients

• 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
• 3/4 cup sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
• 2 egg yolks
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 egg, beaten
• 
  GLAZE:
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 to 3 tablespoons water
• Green, purple and yellow sugars

Directions

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1/2 cup sugar, butter, milk, egg yolks, salt, lemon peel, nutmeg and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
• Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 16-in. x 10-in. rectangle. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Brush with egg.
• Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. For glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and enough water to achieve desired consistency. Spread over cake. Sprinkle with colored sugars. Yield: 1 cake (12 slices).

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