King Cakeless on Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday" is the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. Lent is observed by Catholics as the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday.

Catholics traditionally give up something that they enjoy during Lent as a form of pentinence. Last year, I gave up driving to work. I live 1.3 miles from my office and walked in the sunshine, rain, and snow. I gave up a convenience, but I actually enjoyed my walks. Some days more than others, of course.

I am not creole by birth but after living in Pensacola, FL for several years, I was educated on the best of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras actually started in Mobile, AL- not New Orleans, but the celebration spread to the east and the west and now New Orleans is best known for their Mardi Gras celebration. Mobile still has several parades and Penscola does too. One of my favorite Mardi Gras Traditions is the King Cake. The King Cake is one of the most important items associated with Mardi Gras celebrations, both in New Orleans and wherever Mardi Gras parties are held, that most Mardi Gras rookies will overlook in their preparations. This is a shame since the King Cake is one of the most delicious and culturally significant items that have been associated with Mardi Gras celebrations from the very beginning.

A traditional King Cake is traditionally an oblong or oval shaped cinnamon dough cake, glazed with frosting and sprinkled with colored sugar. What colors you ask? Purple, Green, and Gold, of course!

King Cakes are available in all sorts of colors and flavored fillings such as cream cheese, strawberry, and apple. But unlike other ordinary cakes the fun with a King Cake isn’t simply limited to its taste. Hidden on the underside (after baking) of each King Cake is a small plastic figurine in the shape of a baby. Whoever finds the baby is officially the King or Queen of the party and gets the honor of supplying the next King Cake or throwing the next Mardi Gras Party.

Sadly, the King Cake that I ordered from Whole Foods did not come in today. None were on today's delivery truck. It may be in tomorrow. They will call me. I am bummed but I will still get one. I am NOT giving up King Cake for Lent. This year, potatoes.