Called Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) or Shrove Tuesday , this day is to be a blow-out in terms of food and drink. The day before Ash Wednesday we are to use up all the fat in the house because, theoretically, we will abstain from meat and meat products on the week days of Lent. Whether you observe a Lenten fast of this sort or not, the foods that are associated with this day are wonderful and could tempt anyone to abandon her diet. In Pennsylvania, doughnuts were the feast food, but my favorite comes from New Orleans --King Cake.
Here is Emeril Lagasse's recipe for this taste treat.
KING CAKE
(12 servings)
- 2 packages dry active yeast
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F.)
- 4 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- Vegetable oil
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Juice of one lemon
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Purple, green and gold sugar sprinkles
- Plastic baby toy
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees f.
Combine the yeast, sugar, butter and egg yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the milk. With the mixer on low speed, beat the mixture for about 4 minutes to dissolve the yeast. If the yeast mixture doesn't begin to foam after a few minutes, it means it's not active and will have to be replaced.
In a separate large mixing bowl combine the flour, salt, nutmeg and lemon zest. Add this mixture to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until it lightly comes together, then increase the speed to medium and beat until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl, forms a ball and climbs slightly up the dough hook.
Remove the dough from the bowl. Coat the dough with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl and turn it to oil all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap set in a warm, draft-free place and let rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Mix well.
In another small bowl, combine the remaining powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk Mix well and set aside.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough out 30 inches long and 6 inches in diameter. Spread the cream cheese filling across the center of the dough. Bring the two long edges together and seal all sides completely. Using your hands shape the dough into a long cylinder and place on a greased baking sheet, seam side down. Shape the dough into a ring. Place a well-greased 2 pound coffee can or shortening can in the center of the ring to maintain the shape during baking. Press the plastic baby toy into the ring from the bottom so that it is completely hidden by the dough.
Cover the ring with a towel and place in a warm, drat free place. Let the dough rise about 45 minutes or until the dough doubles in size. With a sharp knife, make several slits around the top of the ring Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown After baking remove the coffee can immediately. Allow the cake to cool. Drizzle the cake with the sugar glaze. Sprinkle the cake with sprinkles, alternating colors.
Time was short this year, so this cake came from Whole Foods. In the past, I have made this cake using this recipe and it looks pretty much like the one pictured here.
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