DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

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! Prep: 40 min. + rising Bake: 25 min. + cooling Yield: 12 Servings Ingredients 40 25 65              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 fl

    The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced back to Medieval Europe, though we have no written record of how that really transformed into the current Mardi Gras of today. But the origins of the Mardi Gras we celebrate today....with Kings, Mardi Gras colors, and brass bands....are traced to New Orleans.     Although we can trace its history to the Romans, a French-Canadian expolorer, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville , landed on a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans in 1699 and called it " Pointe due Mardi Gras". He also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated the very first Mardi Gras.       In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile)....similar to those who form our current Mardi Gras Krewes. It lasted until 1709. In 1710, the " Boef Graf Society" was formed and paraded from 1711