Celebrating Mardi Gras this year? Bake up this colorful treat for the occasion, taken from the recipes in the Armed Forces Week 2005 United We Stand cookbook, printed by Fundcraft Publishing.
Celebrated around the world, if you have never paid attention to the holiday and you’re not sure what Mardi Gras (also referred to as Shrove Tuesday), you’ve been missing out on the fun and tradition. While many celebrate it as though it is more of a season than just one day, here is the description of the event as stated in the cookbook:
“Mardi Gras ins the time between January 6th (Epiphany), and Mardi Gras day, which is the Tuesday before Ash Wenesday. Mardi Gras means ‘fat Tuesday’. It is the day of feasting before beginning the lenten season. Carnival means ‘farewell to meat’. King Cake day is January 7th, it marks the beginning of Mardi Gras season. Mardi Gras colors are Emerald for love, Gold for loyalty, and Purple for sincerity. King Cake is a circle of sweetened French bread iced with green, gold, and purple butter cream frosting, decorated with colored sugar and beads. After the cake is baked a plastic baby is inserted (hidden) in the cake. Who ever gets the prize baby ahs the next King cake party.”
But for now… here’s the recipe you need to create a festive centerpiece for your table.
What you need
Serves 10-12
1-1/2 cup, warm water
2 (1/4-oz.) pkg., yeast
1/2 cup, sugar
1/4 cup, butter, softened
1-1/2 cup, all-purpose flour
1 tsp., cinnamon
1 tsp., cloves
1 tsp., nutmeg
1, one-inch china or plastic baby doll
butter cream icing
gold, emerald and purple colored sugar
gold, emerald and purple food coloring
Method
1) In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water.
2) Add sugar and butter. Blend well.
3) Stir in flour and spices, 1/2-cup at a time, mixing well.
Set in a draft-free place and allow to rise double in bulk, covered.
4) Punch down and turn dough onto a floured board. Knead until smooth.
5) Shape into a large doughnut on a greased cookie sheet. Allow to rise until it is double in size.
6) Preheat oven to 375°. Bake 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
7) Cool cake and insert the baby doll into it.
8) Use food coloring to create three icing colors: gold, emerald and purple.
9) Frost the cake in sections, using all three colors of icing.
10) Sprinkle portions of the cake with the colored sugar that matches the icing.
Have you ever visited New Orleans to watch the parades? Let us know in the comments below.
