King Cake   Submitted by Susan Arcement

• 1 16-oz. container sour cream
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 2 1/4-oz. envelops active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water (100� to 110�)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 6 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 8-oz. packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 large egg 
• 1 21-oz. pie filling such as strawberry, blueberry or your favorite
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• Glaze (see recipe below)
• Purple, green, and yellow sugar crystals

• Cook the first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts.  Remove from heat and cool mixture to 100�-110�.  While preparing the above, stir together yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a 1-cup glass measuring cup.  Let stand 5 minutes.
• Lightly beat 2 large eggs with a stand mixer.  Add sour cream mixture, yeast mixture, and 2 cups  of flour.  Beat at medium speed until smooth. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add enough  of the remaining flour (4 to 4-1/2 cups) until a soft dough forms.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough is doubled in size.
• Beat 3/4 cup sugar, cream cheese, 1 egg, and pie filling at medium speed with a mixer until smooth.  Set aside.
• Punch down dough, and divide in half. Roll each portion into a 22x12-inch rectangle.  Spread half of the 1/4 cup softened butter evenly on each rectangle. Sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon on each rectangle.  Then spread cream cheese mixture evenly on each rectangle, leaving 1-inch borders.
• Roll up each dough rectangle, jelly-roll fashion, starting at 1 long side. Place one dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bring ends of roll together to form an oval ring, moistening and pinching edges together to seal. Repeat with second dough roll.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 20 to 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
• Bake at 375� for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden. Slightly cool cakes on pans on wire racks (about 10 minutes). 
• Spread glaze over warm cakes. Sprinkle with colored sugars, alternating colors and forming bands. Let cool completely.

GLAZE

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted 
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 to 6 tablespoons milk 

• Stir together first 3 ingredients. Stir in 4 tablespoons milk, adding additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until spreading consistency.

Pierre and Boudreaux was flying Cajun Airlines to da Mardi Gras. Boudreaux was flying da plane, and Pierre was in da back foolin wit da cargo equipment an stuff.  Da plane hit some turbulence an started bouncin around and Boudreaux got knocked unconscious. Den da plane start driftin. 

Pierre come run up to da front an Boudreaux was sprawl out all over da steerin wheel.     Well, Pierre don't know nuttin bout flyin an he start to get panaky. He grab da microphone and holla "May Day! May Day! Dis is Cajun Air Line 90210. Boudreaux, him knock unconscious an I don know nuttin about flyin dis plane!"   

"Dis is da control tower," someone answer. "Don you worry a bout nittin. We gonna splain how you to land dis plane, step by step, ah gar-own-tee! Jus leave everyting ta us. Fus, how high yu are, an whas you position?" 

Pierre thought a minute, den say, "I'm five foot ten an I'm all da wa to da front of da plane." 

"No! No! No!" answer da tower. "What you altitude, an where you location?"

Pierre say, "Man, right now ah got a po attitude, an ah'm from Thibodeaux, Laweezeeanna!" 

"No! No! No!" came an exasperated voice. "Ah needs to know how many feet you got off da groun an how you plane in relation to da airport!"  

Pierre, he start to panic by dis time. He say, "Countin Boudreaux's feets an mine togedder, we got fo feet off da groun an I don beleieve dis plane related to you airport!"   

A long pause-----de silence was deafanin.  "We needs to know whoo you next of kin."