Take-out Tuesday, King Cake, California Style

Happy Valentine’s Day! February is so full of special occasions~ Fat Tuesday, the last day of celebration before the Christian season of Lent, is only a week away~ Celebrate with this, melt in your mouth, glazed citrus loaf cake King Cakes associated with Mardi Gras are traditionally made with a cinnamon filling and decorated with … Continue reading

Tablescapes, Mardi Gras Table and Easy King Cake

    Come on in and join the Mardi Gras celebration We always celebrate when there’s an occasion!         There’s also a festive wreath on the inside of the door~ Why have just one wreath when you can have more!         The table is set with festive glasses and … Continue reading

Holidays, Carnival Season

  The main focus for most of us in early January is putting away holiday decor, healthy eating, and getting a fresh start for the new year But in the South, January 6, or Twelfth Night, the Feast of the Ephiphany, marks the beginning of Carnival season, a time of masquerade balls, lavish parades, and … Continue reading

Take-out Tuesday, King Cake Crowns

Happy Fat Tuesday! For our celebration I made vanilla mini bundt cakes Don’t they look like little crowns? I had some help too! What makes these cakes so festive is the colorful batter Gel food coloring produces intense colors It is widely available in grocery, big box and craft stores I used a box cake … Continue reading

Take-out Tuesday, Cinnamon Roll King Cake

Fat Tuesday is next week, so you might want to celebrate with a king cake that’s so easy to make you will have plenty of time for catching beads and moon pies! This is a “not really cooking” recipe, it’s basically just opening a couple of cans and adding some sugar It’s monkey bread style … Continue reading

Holidays, Last Minute Mardi Gras

Fat Tuesday is in 2 days, but there is still time to have a little Mardi Gras fun!   Perhaps you have a crown or tiara?     A mask or some jewels…     Sparkly ornaments in purple, green and gold     A frosty cocktail     A bottle of wine     … Continue reading

Holidays, Mardi Gras Round-up

Spring holidays for 2016 are all piled up this year, with Fat Tuesday, February 9, so close to Valentine’s Day…  just a mere month away!     Mobile, Alabama is one of the first American cities to celebrate Mardi Gras, so it is serious business on the Alabama Gulf Coast.   You can read more … Continue reading

Recipe Box, California Dreamin’ King Cake

I dressed this cake up for Mardi Gras, but this magical cake knows no season You can have it in the oven in less than 15 minutes, whipped up from things you have in your pantry and a little secret ingredient called Chardonnay   🙂 This Chardonnay and olive oil cake recipe came from Proud Italian … Continue reading

Party Panache, Gearing up for Mardi Gras!

People along the Gulf Coast are very serious about Mardi Gras.  You might be surprised to learn that the very first Mardi Gras celebrations were in Mobile, Alabama, not New Orleans~ Decorations go up on King’s day Jan. 6, 12 days after Christmas, the feast of the Epiphany.  It celebrates the three kings, bringing their … Continue reading

Gifts from the Kitchen, Crescent King Cake

Here is the perfect treat you can whip up for Mardi Gras season! It based on crescent roll dough so it goes together quickly and easily.  A little colored icing and your guests and friends will think you are a professional baker! All you need is a can of Crescent Rolls, butter, brown sugar, pecans … Continue reading