Can you tell what I've been working on today?! I love biology, but when I was in school if the biology teacher told us to take out our colored pencils, I was ecstatic! I'm going back to school with my Valentine's cards this year! So much FUN! I'm also inking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced WIP Wed...
Today is also Ash Wednesday, which means that yesterday was Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. I was so busy making King Cake, a traditional Mardi Gras treat that I didn't have time to blog yesterday.
I have a few Louisiana cookbooks, but only one had a King Cake recipe, and I didn't feel that it was "traditional" enough. I found this John Besh recipe on-line that totally takes me back to my childhood! King Cake is actually a yeast bread, with a brioche dough. It traditionally has a plastic baby that is tucked into the cake from underneath after it's baked. Whoever gets the baby has to bring the next King Cake. They are served on a very regular basis during the season of epiphany (12th day after Christmas) until Lent. I had to once again go "old school" and used a walnut half instead. My oldest son was delighted to find it.
The original custom, way back when, was that whoever got the walnut, or bean would be the "king" of the ball or event which this was served at, and then hold the next party. I'm linking up with Debbie at A Quilter's Table!
I also finished my 3rd Triple zip in Mardi Gras colors. All day long I was listening to my dozens of New Orleans music CD's... The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, and many many others! As the song goes, I "know what it means to miss New Orleans", but carrying on these traditions here in Oregon makes me miss it a bit less.
Do you have any traditions that makes you miss yous birthplace or past home less?
