Yesterday was Mardi Gras and at the EQ office that means something special – the UPS truck will arrive with a delivery from Haydel’s Bakery in New Orleans. It’s a King Cake from EQ author and teacher Fran Gonzalez and her husband Larry. We can’t remember exactly when Fran and Larry started sending us this wonderful fun gift on Fat Tuesday, but we really love it.

For those of you who don’t know about King Cake, it’s a part of the New Orleans Mardi Gras traditions. The cake is a like a giant cinnamon roll shaped into a large oval. The icing on the top is covered with sugar, sugar that is colored the Mardi Gras colors (purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power). It is pretty bright and garish, but, hey, it’s Mardi Gras!

The tradition is that the hostess of a Mardi Gras Party bakes a King Cake and slips a little plastic baby inside. The guest who finds the baby in their piece of cake is proclaimed the king/queen of the party – and is responsible for providing the King Cake for the next party of the season.

Fran and Larry both grew up in that wonderful city on the Mississippi and if you want a fun time, ask Fran to tell you stories of her childhood.