King's Bread is served on Twelfth Night. The lucky one who finds the coin the bread will host a party on February 2, which is EL DIA DE LA CANDELARIA (the day of the candle mass).

1 tsp. dried orange peel
2 pkgs. active dry yeast
1/2 c. warm water
1/2 c. milk, scalded
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. shortening
2 tsp. salt
4 c. all-purpose flour
3 eggs, well beaten
1 tbsp. butter, melted

TOPPING:

Candied cherries, cut into sm. pieces
Candied orange peel, in strips

Soak dried orange peel in rum. To make bread, soften yeast in warm water. In large bowl, pour hot milk over sugar, shortening, and salt, stirring until sugar is dissolved and shortening is melted. Cool to lukewarm. Beat in 1 cup flour, then add the eggs to softened yeast, and the rum soaked orange peel. Add enough flour to make a stiff dough.

Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and satiny. Roll dough into a long rope; shape into a ring, sealing the ends together. Transfer to greased cookie sheet. Push coin into the dough so that it is completely covered. Brush with melted butter. Cover with towel; let rise until double in bulk (about 1 1/2 hours).

Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. When cool, frost bread ring with confectioners' sugar icing, and decorate with candied cherries and orange peel strips.

CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR ICING:

1 1/3 c. confectioners' sugar
4 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, water, and vanilla until smooth. Makes 1 large ring of bread.