Traditional Marti Gras King Cake

I looked all over the internet for a traditional King Cake.  It must be a proper, butter-layered brioche - not a fake, quick enriched bread.  It must be braided, not a plain, single cinnamon roll.  Each strand must be filled with a different filling, not, "pipe cream cheese in random places so it seems filled," like I have been seeing. I can not find this cake.

The closest recipe I have found is here - instructions given for a brioche, and then 2 strands are each filled with cream cheese and twisted together.  I decided that this recipe would be my base, and I would alter the ingredients to make enough dough for 3 braids, and include a cream cheese filling, lemon curd and raspberry filling, along with a cinnamon/sugar/pecan filling.  Yes... this is going to be a real King Cake!!

Unfortunately, our Marti Gras shindig had to be cancelled, due to feverish children the day before (boooo, hoo, hoo, hoo).  We are going to plan it for about a month from now - no point missing out on the party, even though we will be very late... none of us are Catholic ;-)  SO!!  That brings me to today, where I will work up a 1/2 batch and practice my King Cake to work out any kinks before I must present the final work-of-art to the guests!  Hooray!

So I will list recipes for both a full and a half-batch of dough.  The half recipe might be handy for a small Marti Gras party, anyway.  I will convert everything for weights and measures, so anyone can use this recipe.  I'll try to remember to take pictures of everything!  Here we go!

Marti Gras King Cake

Be sure to read through each step of the entire recipe to be sure you have all the ingredients, tools and time needed for this cake.  It is a very involved recipe, but well worth the effort!  

Since this recipe has 2 sizes of cake, it might be beneficial to print out (or copy to a document) only the recipe you have chosen, to avoid using the wrong quantity of an ingredient.  Also, assemble and measure all your ingredients ahead of time.  The flour and butter both have to be used in smaller portions, and having them pre-divided will prevent mistakes.  The laminated brioche can be made the day ahead and held in the fridge (well wrapped), and the rolls, braid and baking done on the day of eating.  Yum, fresh King Cake!

Dough - Full  Batch 
• 39 ounces Bread Flour, divided in thirds (13 weighed ounces each) plus more for adjustments
• 1.5 teaspoon Instant Yeast
• 6 Tablespoons Sugar
• 3 teaspoons Salt
• 3/4 cup Milk (room temperature)
• 9 Eggs
• 1.5 pound Butter (3 cups or 6 sticks), divided (3 sticks cut in small pieces at room temperature, 3 whole sticks at room temperature)
• Cream Cheese, Lemon Curd and Raspberry Curd and Cinnamon Sugar Pecan Fillings recipes follow  

Dough - Half  Batch 
• 19.5oz bread flour, divided in thirds (6.5 weighed ounces each) plus more for adjustments
• 3/4 teaspoon instant yeast
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 teaspoons Salt
• 6 tablespoons milk
• 5 eggs
• .75 pounds butter (1.5 cups or 3 sticks) divided (1.5 sticks cut into small pieces at room temperature, 1.5 sticks whole at room temperature)
• 1/2 batches of Cream Cheese, Lemon Curd and Raspberry Curd and Cinnamon Sugar Pecan Fillings (figure those out on your own ;-)

Directions for full or half cake:

1. Place 1/3 of the flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a stand mixer bowl. (if you are doing this by hand, you'll probably need to mix longer at each step, and switch to kneading when required)
2. Using paddle attachment, add milk, and mix at low speed for 3 minutes (till smooth - scrape down as needed)
3. Add the pieces of butter gradually, and mix until incorporated.
4. Add 1/3 flour, and mix till smooth.
5. Add Eggs gradually, and mix till smooth.
6. Switch to dough hook, add remaining flour, and mix 4 minutes on medium speed.
7. Transfer dough onto sheet pan, and flatten. Let rest at room temp for an hour.  Clear a very large space on the counter.
8. Roll out on floured surface into an even rectangle of ¼" thickness.
9. Spread the remaining whole sticks of butter over the right 2/3 of the dough surface.
10. Fold up the left unbuttered 1/3 of the dough over the center 1/3.  Then, fold the right buttered 1/3 over the center - this will look like a tri-fold letter.
11. You have just made your first 3 fold, or what is referred to as "Lock-in".  Press your finger in to make an indention at the corner of your dough to indicate "1".  At this point refrigerate the folded dough for an hour.
12. Roll out dough to same size as first time (this will be easier if you turn the dough horizontally) and repeat folding motion, and press the corner with 2 fingers. (do NOT add any more butter.  This repeated rolling/folding motion makes the butter layer thinner and thinner each time, creating flakiness)
13. Refrigerate for an hour, and then repeat the roll and fold - press in 3 fingers and refrigerate.
14. You now have a fully Laminated Brioche. (if you lose track of which step you are on, just check for your fingerprint - 3 prints means you are done!)

Rolling, Filling and Assembly

1. Heat oven to 400
2. Remove your brioche from the fridge and cut into 3 even pieces.  DO NOT pile it together or knead - just cut cleanly. Place 2 back into the fridge. Roll out into an even rectangle of a 1/8".
3. Each roll will be made the same way - Roll out the dough into a horizontal rectangle around 10"x 30" - it should only be about 1/8" thick.  (whatever size you end up with, make a note so you can make all 3 rolls equal.)  
4. To Fill - Leave a 1" strip of clean dough on the long edge closest to you.  Use about 1C of filling and pile it thickly down the length of the dough - about 2" wide.  Wet the 1" strip of dough with your fingers, fold over the filling and use your fingertips to firmly attach it to the other side.  You can actually press deep prints into the dough - it will be covered by the next wrap (in my head, it seems to me like I'm "stapling" the dough together - don't be afraid to hurt it!)  Using your fingers, dampen each end of your filling-tube and pinch it closed to avoid leaks.  Make a small fold and pinch if necessary to get a good seal.
5. You should now have a filled & sealed tube near you, and several inches of plain dough.  Sprinkle the dough with the cinnamon/pecan filling, leaving about 1" of clean dough on the far side.
6. Roll the filled tube away from you to finish the jelly roll - you want to wrap it tightly (stretch the dough slightly to keep the layers close together) but keep an eye on your ends so you don't squish them open.  You will have to work your way up and down the roll as you go to get it all.  When you reach the other side, dampen the clean edge, then roll onto it.  "Staple" it together, but be sure to only get the edge, and not squish your filling.
7. Very carefully coil this roll onto a dinner plate and return to the fridge.  Repeat this whole process for the other two fillings.
8. Bring all 3 ropes out of the fridge and lay lengthwise beside each other.  Even up the ends of the rolls, then start your braid in the center - working to one end, and then the other.  Lay a large piece of parchment paper on the counter (optional, but handy) For a full King Cake, Bring the ends around to meet in a circle (on the parchment), then work with all the free ends to layer/braid them together to make the braid seem as if it goes all the way around.  For a half-cake, it might be best to just leave it in a straight braid - its up to you, and how long your rolls are, and how tight you want your circle.  Transfer cake to a very large baking sheet (the parchment paper makes this easy, trim off edges that overhang the pan).
9. Let stand in a warm place till doubled in size.
10. Carefully brush entire cake with an egg wash (saved egg + 1 more egg + 1T water, beaten together).  Bake @400F for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350F for an additional 25 minutes, or until the bottom of your cake is golden brown.
11.  Cool 5 minutes on sheet, then carefully slide cake to a cooling rack and cool completely before decorating.

Cream Cheese Filling
• 6oz cream cheese, room temp
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons beaten Egg (save the rest in the fridge for egg wash on bread)
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest

1. Mix all ingredients at medium speed until well blended.  May be made ahead and refrigerated, if desired.

Lemon/Raspberry Curd Filling

• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (use with both flavors)
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (or raspberry juice, instructions follow)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 4 egg yolks, beaten

1. To make filling: In medium saucepan, mix together 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 1/2 cup lemon (or raspberry) juice and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth. Mix in 6 tablespoons butter and 3/4 cup sugar, and bring mixture to boil over medium heat. Boil for one minute, stirring constantly. In small bowl, with a wire whisk, beat egg yolks until smooth. Whisk in a small amount of the hot juice mixture. Pour the egg mixture into the sauce pan, beating the hot juice mixture rapidly. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes, or until thick (not to boil).
2. Pour mixture into medium bowl. Press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming as it cools. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate 3 hours.  This makes lots of curd, and there will be plenty of leftovers for scones and toast later.  Make ahead and refrigerate, if desired.

• For raspberry juice - Place a 16oz bag of frozen raspberries in a small saucepan.  Heat slowly, stirring occasionally, until the berries reach a simmer. (may also be microwaved)  Simmer a few minutes or until very juicy.  Pour through a sieve or cheese cloth to strain off the juice.  If needed, add water to equal 1/2C.

Cinnamon/Pecan Filling
 

Whole Wheat Muffin Base

Hi All!  This is an adaptation from my Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffin recipe.  I have altered it to use less oil, and less sugar, and to use all WW flour.  Also, a few ideas for stir-ins.

These muffins are roughly 160 cals each, including streusel.

Whole Wheat Muffin Base

Streusel Topping (optional)
1/4C white flour (WW is too grainy here)
1/4C packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons cold butter

Stir dry ingredients together in a small bowl.  Cut in (or rub with fingers) until butter is incorporated.


Muffin Base
3/4C milk
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons applesauce (any type)
1 egg
2C whole wheat flour (white whole wheat is nice, try King Aurthur)
1/4C sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1C fruit (see note below)

1. Heat oven to 400.  Grease or line 12 muffin cups.  Whisk together milk, oil, applesauce and egg in a large bowl.
2. Stir in dry ingredients until just moistened.  Stir in fruit
3. For a standard muffin tin, place 1/4C batter in each cell (fill about 2/3 full).  Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon streusel on each (if using).
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown, and a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool 5 minutes, then remove to cooling rack.

Fruit Options
Blueberry Muffins
1C fresh, canned (drained) or frozen (keep frozen) blueberries 
Apple Cinnamon Muffins
1C chopped fresh apple, add 1 teaspoon cinnamon with dry ingredients
Banana Muffins
Use only 1/3C milk, and add 1C ripe mashed banana with milk.  Use brown sugar instead of regular.
Cranberry Orange Muffins
Replace 1/4C of the milk with orange juice, add zest of one orange with wet ingredients.  Use 1C whole or chopped cranberries.

Cranberry-Orange

Asian Napa Cabbage Salad

Courtesy of Aunt Debby Carrick!! 

Napa Cabbage Salad

Salad:
1 Napa Cabbage, trimmed and shredded
1/2C green onions, chopped
1C shredded carrots
1/2C cilantro, chopped
1 package ramen, crushed (do not use seasoning packet)
1/4C sesame seeds, toasted
OPTIONAL about 1.5 lbs. cooked chicken, shredded (1/2 leftover rotisserie is great here)


Dressing:
1/2C Rice Wine Vinegar
2T lemon or lime juice
1T fresh grated ginger (or 1t ground)
2T brown sugar
2T soy sauce
2T toasted sesame oil (toast in a low skillet or in a 300 oven until fragrant and browning)
2T Maple Grove Sesame Ginger Dressing (optional, but see if you can find it - in a glass bottle with a pic of ginger on the front)

Dressing:
Mix together dressing ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk (or shake in a small jar) until blended.  If possible, refrigerate the dressing for several hours to blend.  Dress salad about an hour before serving.


Salad:
Toss ingredients together in a very large bowl.  The chicken is optional, depending on if you want a side salad, or more of a main course.  The ramen will soften once you add the dressing - it only needs about an hour, so hold the dressing until near serving time.

For a pasta salad, try eliminating or reducing the cabbage and adding a box of cooked,cooled rotini, spirals or bow ties.

Cream Cheese Vegetable Spread

As many of you know, I've been know to throw a party.  Or 2.  Or half a dozen in any given year ;-)  One type of party that I love to throw is a lady's tea.  People have alwoys loved my cucumber sandwiches, and asked for the recipe, but I always just throw it together at the last minute!  I made a batch today, and it turned out perfectly, so here it is in recipe form!

This is a great all purpose cream cheese dip/filling/spread.  Great with a veggie tray, crackers, cucumber sandwiches, etc.  For a dip, thin slightly with milk.


Cream Cheese Vegetable Spread

2 blocks philadelphia cream cheese, room temp
1 stick real butter, room temp
1/2 red bell pepper, minced finely (see notes in recipe)
1/2 cucumber, seeded and minced (see note)
2 green onions, halved lengthwise and minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon (or more) dried dill

optional - a few dashes of tabasco or worcestershire, for kick.  I never add these for cucumber sandwiches, maybe for use as veggie dip.

Basically you mix everything in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy.  Makes about 3 cups.  For cucumber sandwiches, spread thinly on both pieces of bread, fill with a single layer of paper thin cucumber slices, remove the crusts and quarter the sandwiches.

Use English cucumbers if you can get them, which have tiny or non-existant seeds.  Otherwise, peel and quarter your cucumber lengthwise, then cut out the seedy center before mincing.

For the veggies, when I say minced, I don't mean "finely chopped".  I mean "minced until they begin to liquify".  If you have a mini food chopper, magic bullet, etc, this will be easy.  To do it by hand takes longer.  Chop each veggie until its very small, then gather it all up into a pile.  Beginning at one side of your pile, hold the knife in one hand, and place the other hand about 2" up from the tip.  Rock the knife back and forth quickly, while slowly progressing across your pile of veggies.  I usually scrape it all together and do it over and over until the pieces are super tiny, and they are standing in their own juices on the cutting board.  Pour it all into the bowl - including the juices.  Your mix will be slightly salmon-colored by the red bell pepper.  Speaking of which, smoked salmon in or on this dip would be heavenly.

Chicken Salad

As I write, I'm eating the last leftovers of the best chicken salad I've ever made.  It had the perfect combination of crunch, chew, creaminess, sweet and savory.  It was SOOOO good, that I'm writing it down for myself so I won't forget how I did it.  I guess you can see it to.  I mostly combined 2 recipes that I found, which both seemed to be lacking in what the other provided.  Perfect combination!!

Chicken Salad

4 regular or 5 smallish chicken breasts
2 ribs celery, finely diced
3 green onions, split lengthwise and finely chopped
1/2C pecan halves, broken into pieces or roughly chopped
1/2C walnut halves broken into pieces or roughly chopped
1 small apple, diced (peel only if the skin is tough)
1C black seedless grapes, halved

Dressing:
1/2C mayonaisse
1/2C sour cream
1/2C loosely packed fresh basil, sliced into shreds
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper


First, cook the chicken.  I took my chicken breasts out of the freezer, plopped them onto a rimmed baking sheet and into a 350 oven.  About an hour into it, I had to drain the pan of water.  Cook until the internal temp is at least 160.  Chop into nice smallish pieces - mine were about 1/2".  Or you can choose to shred your chicken by pulling it apart with 2 forks.  Chunks are nice for eating with a fork, but shreds stay in a sandwich better.  Place chicken in a large mixing bowl.

While the chicken is cooking, toast your nuts.  You can spread them on a rimmed cookie sheet and bake at about 350 for 8-12 minutes, shaking the pan every few minutes or until lightly toasted.  Or, you can put them in a cast iron skillet on med/low heat and shake the pan every minute or so until toasted.  Cool and add to the chicken.

Chop the celery, green onion, apple and halve the grapes and add to the chicken.  In a small bowl or 2C glass measuring cup, mix together all the dressing ingredients.  You may want to add the salt last, a little at a time and taste as you go.  Adjust the seasonings now, but remember the flavors of the other ingredients will make a big difference.

Toss everything together in the big bowl and enjoy!!  You can start with only part of the dressing if it looks like too much.  Makes around 7-8C.