New Orleans is known for its celebrations; the biggest celebration of all is the period before Mardi Gras--our Carnival season. One important food tradition throughout the Carnival season is King Cake. The festivities begin on January 6, Twelfth Night, a feast day of the Roman Catholic church. This day commemorates the visit of the three wise men of the east to the baby Jesus.

The King Cake honors the three kings; each cake has a doll of "baby" hidden inside. Traditionally the person who receives the portion of cake with the baby is designated host for the next party. Parties are held each week between Twelfth Night and Mardi Gras. The cake itself is like a coffee-cake shaped into a ring and decorated with sprinkles of sugar colored purple, gold and green, the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. Purple--justice; green--faith; gold--power.

2 1/4 oz. pkg. dry yeast
1/4 c. lukewarm water
1 tsp. sugar plus 6 tbsp.
1 c. milk, scalded
2 eggs, beaten, plus 1 egg yolk
1 1/2 c. sifted flour plus 2 to 2 1/2 c.
3 tbsp. melted butter plus 2 tbsp.
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. orange extract
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. grated nutmeg
1 tbsp. water
1/3 c. light corn syrup
2 drops purple food coloring
2 drops green food coloring
2 drops gold food coloring

Dissolve the yeast in the water and add the teaspoon of sugar. Scald the milk and let cool, then add the 1/2 cup sugar, eggs and 1 1/2 cups of the sifted flour. This is what is called a "sponge." This is the first process in baking bread. Cover with a damp cloth and let the sponge rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. This will take from 1/2 to 1 hour.

When the sponge is ready, add the 3 tablespoons of melted butter, vanilla and orange extracts, salt, and nutmeg. Mix well. Add 2 cups of the sifted flour and mix thoroughly until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl and does not any longer stick to your hands. Knead about 10 minutes or until smooth and shiny.

Place dough in a warm greased bowl and brush the surface very lightly with melted butter; cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm (80 to 85 degrees) place about 2 hours or until doubled in bulk.

Turn out on a floured board and roll the dough with your hands into a rope 1 inch in diameter. Transfer to a well-greased cookie sheet and form the rope of dough into one large or two small oval-shaped cakes. Join ends by moistening with water.

If you want to put a bean or doll in the cake, press it into the dough at this time. Cover and let rise 1/2 hour. Brush with egg yolk diluted with 1 tablespoon of water. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Add 2 drops of one of the food colorings to 2 tablespoons of sugar, and stir quickly until the sugar is evenly colored. Proceed with the two remaining colors and set aside.

Remove from the oven and decorate by brushing the top of the cake with corn syrup and alternating 3-inch bands of purple, gold, green sugar.