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Community Corner

Royals Rule Fat Tuesday With King Cake Tradition

Fenton's Slice of Heaven Bakery has been busy baking hundreds of King Cakes, ensuring the area its share of Mardi Gras royalty.

Right of succession has nothing to do with birth order when crowning Mardi Gras royalty. It depends on cake and luck. And according to the number of King Cakes being sold at Slice of Heaven Bakery, 2099 Bentley Plaza, Fenton,   an abundance of royals in the area.

“I can’t count the number of Kings Cakes we’ve sold so far but it’s been a lot,” reports Slice of Heaven owners Jim and Catherine Kidder. “We sold out this morning and Catherine had to bake more for this afternoon.”

What makes these cakes such a hot item? First and foremost, King Cakes are fun. They come with a small baby doll or coin that can be hidden (or baked) inside the cake. The baby represents the baby Jesus. The connection: Kings Cakes are baked beginning on Jan. 6 (Twelfth Night), a date commemorating when the Three Kings brought their gifts to Jesus, which also is the date the Mardi Gras season begins.

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Traditionally, the method of crowning begins with serving King Cake only to the men at the king’s ball.  The fellow who found the baby in his slice of cake was proclaimed king who in turn chooses his queen. Today, Kings Cakes offer equal opportunity for either kings or queens.  However, no matter who finds the baby in their slice of cake first, protocol states he or she must buy the cake and host next year’s Mardi Gras celebration.

Slice of Heaven's King Cakes are baked using the recipe popular in New Orleans, which is a yeast raised sweet dough, with or without a fruit or cream cheese filling. Filled cakes are favored in New Orleans, especially those with a combination cream cheese and fruit or chocolate.

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“You can order any kind you like,” said Kidder. “ Just order or stop by. We'll have King Cakes through Fat Tuesday.”

Slice of Heaven’s King Cakes are decorated with colored sugar using the Mardi Gras colors of gold, green and purple representing power, faith and justice. Prices are from $15.99 and $16.99 for filled cakes.

If you miss out on getting your own Kings Cake for Fat Tuesday - take heart. You can still celebrate Fat Tuesday with the following quick fix New Orleans style recipes.

Beignets
  • 3 to 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 pkg. dry yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup whole milk, warmed to 125 degrees
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 egg
  • oil for frying
  • powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl combine 1 1/2 cups flour, yeast and nutmeg. Stir in warmed milk, sugar, oil and the egg. Stir in enough flour to make a stiff workable dough. Place in greased bowl and let rise until doubled. Punch dough down and roll out into a rectangle a 1/4-inch thick. Let dough rest 15 minutes then cut into 2-inch squares and deep fry in hot oil (375 degrees) until crisp and brown. This takes only a few minutes. Drain on paper towels, dredge in powdered sugar. Serve warm. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen

QUICK FIX SHRIP AND SAUSAGE JAMBALAYA

  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 package Jambalaya Mix (Zatarain’s)
  • 1 pound shelled shrimp*
  • 1 pound smoked sausage, 1/4-inch thick
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onions 

Bring water and oil to boil in large saucepan. Stir in rice mix, shrimp and sausage; return to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 25 minutes or until rice is tender.  Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle with green onions before serving.  Makes 4-6 servings.

* Chicken can be substituted for shrimp.

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