Mardi Gras King Cake Extravaganza!

We had our first N' Awlins King Cake Party and Mardi Gras with the Cliffords!
Anna Jane and I spent the afternoon with Carol making King Cakes. You can see that the process was a lot of fun: rolling out dough, spreading cinnamon, butter and sugar, rolling the dough, braiding it and then making into the shape of a crown. After the baking process, we decorated with icing and colored sugar--and the "Good Luck" baby was hidden inside for some lucky person!!
We went to Ed and Carol's house for dinner. We all wore some kind of costume or mask. Anna Jane wore one of her many princess gowns! After dinner, Carol went to the balcony and our "parade" started. We stood at the bottom, yelling up to her to "Throw more beads!!!" (and YES, this was a PG event--there was no shirt lifting to get beads!)
We then had dessert--the King Cake! Yummy! Anna Jane found the baby hidden in her piece...wonder how that happened??? Wasn't that lucky??
Ed and Carol are from New Orleans and have enlightened us as to the customs of their former home. I've got her great recipe for Red Beans and Rice...let me know if you want it! They are such great neighbors and friends. They went to a lot of effort to make our first experience with Mardi Gras such a memorable one! It was awesome!