Contest Winner, King Cake Recipe, Slow Cooked Poem & Bletiquette

...aaaand the winner is, with a guess of 883 and being closest to the number of beads in my head (LOL) of 935.....

Linda Crow of 2nd Cup of Coffee

Congratulations! Let me know your preferred flavor of King Cake so I can go order and ship it to ya! We'll expect full reportage on the glory of the yummy baked good after it arrives and is consumed. (Warning: A wee plastic baby may or may not be hidden inside the cake, so please do not chomp down unawares. I am not legally responsible for chipped teeth or broken crowns!) :)
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Check out my fun poem over at The Found Poetry Project -- A Slow Cooker, and leave a comment if you're so inclined.

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If you're interested in making your own King Cake for a Mardi Gras celebration, here's an easy recipe and a little history for ya:

Also known as Twelfth Night Cake, the brioche-style King Cake is made in Louisiana bakeries for the period between the Twelfth Night (January 6) and Ash Wednesday.

This delicious tradition is thought to have begun with French settlers, and dating back to 12th century France, when a similar cake was used to celebrate the coming of the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days after Christmas, calling it the feast of Epiphany, Twelfth Night, or King's Day.

The cakes are traditionally baked in the round shape to commemorate the circular route taken by the Kings, and usually contained a bean, pea, or a figurine symbolizing the baby Jesus. Around 1871 the tradition of choosing the Mardi Gras queen by who drew the prize-filled piece of cake began. Now the "winner" provides the next cake or hosts the next party.

Mardi Gras colors were chosen in 1872 to symbolize Justice (purple), Faith (green), and Power (gold).

King Cake

1 packet dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 Tbs. milk, scalded and cooled
4 1/2 - 5 cups flour
8 oz. butter
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
4 eggs
2 tsp. melted butter
very small plastic doll
light corn syrup for topping
Colored sugar sprinkles (or make your own with granulated sugar colored with food coloring -- green, purple, and yellow)

Prepare yeast in warm water. Add milk and about 1/2 cup of flour. In a large bowl, mix butter, sugar, salt and eggs. Add yeast mixture and mix well. Slowly add in 2 1/2 cups flour to make a medium dough. Place in a greased bowl and brush with melted butter. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise double in size (3-4 hours).

Use 1 cup or more flour to knead dough and roll into a 4 to 5-foot long rope. Form into a oval on a 14 x 17" greased baking sheet, connecting ends of the rope with a few drops of water, pinching to make a good seal.

Press the doll into the dough from bottom. Cover dough ring with a damp cloth and let rise about 1 hour. Bake at 325° for 35 to 45 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Brush top of cake with corn syrup and sprinkle with alternating bands of colored sugar. Cut, serve, enjoy!

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Now, friend Bella (aka That Damn Expat) has an important Public Service Announcement on the subject of Bletiquette; something I've touched on in a post or two here. Bella's version, however, seemed to touch a lot of nerves with 83 comments, so be sure to read her no-holds-barred list. Parts of it made me laugh out loud. Thanks, you crazy blog owner, for giving me permission to link to this important PSA.

Meatless Lasagna & Mardi Gras Contest

Before we get to the vittles, I'd like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM! I wish she was well enough to be online like she used to love to be, but let's send up good thoughts and prayers for her special day.

Now here's a recipe for my vegetarian friends in the form of something yummiciously Italian (per Colby's request). It comes from my lady neighbor friend Vera, who wrote her own family tradition cookbook, one of which sits proudly on my cookbook shelf. I've had several cooking lessons at Vera's, and I can promise you this is the real deal. (Some of the best food I've ever had.) So, let's git to it!

Vera's Meatless Lasagna

1 lb. lasagna noodles

1 lb. Fat Free Ricotta cheese

8 oz. Mozzarella cheese

1 qt. of your favorite spaghetti sauce (in a jar is fine)

Grated Romano cheese to taste

1 beaten egg

parsley, garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste

dash of nutmeg

To Ricotta, add egg, salt, garlic, pepper, parsley and nutmeg. Mix well and set aside. Boil noodles until tender, but do not overcook.

In a large pan, layer as follows: tomato sauce, noodles, Ricotta mix, Mozzarella, Romano and more sauce. Layer until you have the pan full, then top with more Mozzarella and sauce.

Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lasagna is heated through and cheese is melted and blended together.

NOTE: You may add cooked hamburger or sausage if desired. If you want to keep it meatless, you can also add cooked chopped spinach as well.

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Now, for the First Annual Gumbo Writer's Mardi Gras Contest~~

The rules are simple. The contest will run for one week, from now until midnight, February 17.

If you want this ---> -- then leave a comment with your guess on how many individual beads (not strands) are in this picture --->

Winner will need a street address for delivery, and will choose from these flavors for their very own King Cake: Cinnamon - Strawberry - Cream Cheese - Blueberry Lemon - Pecan Praline - Apple - Raspberry.

Laissez les bon temps roulez!!!!! (Let the good times roll!)