ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 9, 1994                   TAG: 9402100224
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

KING CAKE GUARANTEED TO FATTEN UP MARDI GRAS

The Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans has actually been going on since Jan. 6, better known as Twelfth Night, Ephiphany or King's Day, when the first round of grand balls and revels took place and the first King Cake was presented. A new cake is baked each week until Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday," - Feb. 15 this year - which is the last day before Lent.

The King Cake, decorated to resemble the jeweled crowns worn by the three kings who visited the Christ Child on Ephiphany, is believed to have been brought to New Orleans from France around 1870. A dried bean or pea was hidden inside the cake, and the finder became king or queen for a day. Today, an almond often replaces the bean, and the finder receives a small plastic doll along with the obligation to host the next Mardi Gras party and provide the next King Cake.

This butter-rich, yeast-raised version is unrivaled for rave reviews.

Recipe for KING CAKE 


 by CNB