If you can't drink, Bake! - Fat Tuesday King Cake

I consider Fat Tuesday one of those great holidays. No gifts to worry about buying and lots of fun adult drinks. Unfortunately, since it always falls on a Tuesday this working mom doesn't get to participate very often. So this year I decided to bake for celebration and look up some traditional recipes. The story of the King's Cake is interesting. You are supposed to bake a miniature plastic baby in it and whoever finds it gets good luck for the year. I say the people that don't get the baby are the lucky ones, because they probably do not get poisoned with lead tainted plastic. Since I don't have little plastic babies hanging around (and didn't think a Diego doll would have the same effect) I passed on this part and just made a simple recipe version called King's Delight Cake found on Ivillage. It is baking right now, and smells great with a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. I hope it turns out so I can share with my friends at work. Too bad we can't wash it down with a Hurricane or Mint Julep. Happy Belated Mardi Gras!