I looked at the list of things people had said they would bring and then did some research into what is really considered Mardi Gras food.
What I found first was King Cake. I also discovered that there are lots of different ideas for how to make a King Cake.
I went with the breadier version and started by mixing up dough for a loaf of bread.
Then I mixed up the filler, made of raisins, pecans, cream cheese, and cinnamon.
Once that was spread out on the dough I rolled it up jelly roll style and then formed it into a ring.
Since the pan was greased the elasticity of the dough ring wanted to slide into a smaller ring. I had to get creative and put a mixing bowl in the middle to keep it formed while rising until it went in the oven.
Right before going in the oven I cut the top to mark the pieces.
Once the ring was baked I mixed up the Mardi Gras colored powdered sugar icing.
Putting that icing on gave me some pretty pools of color.
The slices show how the filling rolled up in the dough.
Looks good and tasted great, if I do say so myself.
This is what went to the office with me. I had to slice it before I left because the full ring was too big for the container. So I tightened up the ring a little bit.
You might notice that once again there are pieces missing.
I wasn't allowed to leave the house with the whole thing, if you know what I mean.
The cake didn't have the traditional baby doll baked inside. Mostly because I didn't have one to put in it, but partially because besides the "Good Luck" that it is supposed to bring the one who finds it, the finder is also supposed to bake the cake next year. I didn't figure they would do that and I didn't want to mess up their Karma that way.
Someone did ask about it, and I had to explain the whole thing to the few people that were standing there. It was like trying to explain Christmas without Santa Claus, there is a purpose behind the symbolism. Then I was told "it would have been more fun" if I had put the baby in the cake - but whoever found it would not have known why it was there, or would have almost choked on it, so the whole thing would have needed another explanation.
The lunch would have also been more fun if everyone could have enjoyed it. There are never enough seats so I went back to the table in my cube. Then I saw people walking around with beads - I don't even want to know what they did to earn those, they probably don't know what that means either. Somedays it is annoying to live in cornbread land. Or maybe I am just having a bad day.
Today I made some more Pepperoni Rolls and a loaf of Sandwich bread for our lunchs next week. I think I will go make some wheat bread too. It is hard to believe we are still loosing weight, but it is all about portion control and awareness of the calories we are eating.
The next story ought to be about the bulldozer and cutting up storm damaged trees. It was supposed to happen this weekend, but it rained. We will have to try again next week sometime.
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