My Dad got a surprise today--a Mardi Gras King Cake, mask, beads, coins, and coffee from Randazzo's in New Orleans. Completely unexpected--it came from a business associate. It's like an entire party in a box!
One thing I didn't realize, though, until I looked up their website for you? I had been explaining to my parents that I'd seen a segment on King Cakes on the Food Network, and how they hid a prize inside for luck . . . and so on. Well, when I opened the website . . . there it was . . . "As featured on the Food Network." This was the very King Cake I'd heard about. How cool is that, huh? Especially since I've never HAD a King Cake before.
The timing is good, too, because we're down to just this much stollen. Chappy and Dad have BOTH been working their way through the freezer of Stollen since Christmas, and here's the tail end of it . . . Enough for two, maybe three more breakfasts.
Because, this is what they've looked like for the last month of mornings. Dad eating his stollen, Chappy glued to his side, drooling gently on the floor, waiting for the few crumbs that Dad leaves him. It's VERY cute. The last few weekends, even, when Dad's up before Chappy and the first thing that Chappy's looked for has been the dish of stollen crumbs. Not the bathroom. Not the other family members. The Stollen.
I don't know which of them is going to be more disappointed when this runs out....
Hey--did you see? The Interweave Knits Spring preview is up.
Now, KMKat wants to see the wallpaper on my computer? Happy to oblige! I have two.
This one, of the pink rose, is on my home computer. It's out of the bouquet of memorial roses a friend gave me when Katy died. I love the picture, and it makes me think of Katy--never a bad thing.
My computer at the office has this one--because, naturally, I like to admire my beautiful little boy while I'm at work! This is from our vacation on Martha's Vineyard in 2005, and is one of my absolute favorite pictures of him. Love that hair! (And, it always makes me think of the cover of this book, too. Again, it's the hair.)
Lastly, my Dad cut this comic out of the paper for me this morning. For some reason, it made him think of me! And yes, there HAVE been days when I've felt like that . . . nothing worth blogging about until something (hopefully interesting) came in the mail.
I want a King Cake! How lucky you are those things are wonderful.
Posted by: Kate | January 23, 2007 at 11:05 PM
Never heard of King Cake, but it sure looks good. I hope your dad and Chappy like it as much as the Stollen.
Hm. Some interesting things coming up in the new Interweave Knits...
Love your wallpaper.
Great comic!
Posted by: Laura | January 24, 2007 at 02:15 AM
I'm wondering why you didn't put a "stollen meter" in your sidebar. I had completely forgotten about your adventures in stollen and now I'm (a) surprised to find that there still is stollen in your world and (b) that sad that it's almost gone.
Next year: stollen meter. (Just a suggestion.) ;-)
Posted by: jessie | January 24, 2007 at 06:10 AM
I've always wanted to try King Cake, too. You'll have to give us a review once you've tried it.
Posted by: Carole | January 24, 2007 at 06:32 AM
That reminds me, time to make a King Cake. I better get on the stick if I want my New Orleans boy to have some before he goes back to college!
Posted by: Julie | January 24, 2007 at 07:10 AM
when i worked at oriental trading company, we would have people recommend all kinds of stuff. supposedly there's a place in misssissippi that makes the world's best king cake. and i've never seen the inside of your stollen, no wonder it takes forever! the one my SIL bought isn't nearly that packed with stuff (although it's got marzipan in the middle)
Posted by: minnie | January 24, 2007 at 07:52 AM
When our youngest was in college in New Orleans, he was "adopted" by a local couple who became dear friends over the years, and who sent us a King Cake on more than one occasion. Sadly, they had to flee the city after Katrina (they lived in one of the badly flooded areas up near Lake Ponchartrain)and will not return. Their house has already been razed by the City. My feelings toward King Cakes are therefore bitter-sweet. (They usually hide a little plastic baby.)
Posted by: Marcia | January 24, 2007 at 09:44 AM
Thanks for sharing the cartoon!! And that is WONDERFUL picture of Chappy.
Posted by: Chris | January 24, 2007 at 10:13 AM
OMG- Thank you so much for sharing the King Cake link! I haven't had one for years, and was wondering where I should order from so I could get my fix! I'm off to order sweets...
Posted by: Allison | January 24, 2007 at 11:11 AM
That cartoon is too funny! ;o)
I think I saw the same thing about King Cake on the Food Network - let us know if you like it!
Oh, and I made popcorn on the stove last night and thought of you :o) I saw an Alton B. show the other day about it - he used a metal bowl and it looked way cool. Now I'm figuring out a way to justify buying a new bowl when I just purchased a matching set and donated all the mismatched ones! ;o)
Posted by: JessaLu | January 24, 2007 at 04:28 PM
Enjoy your party in a box! I've never heard of a King Cake, but it sounds like a nice treat to ward off winter. Hope your knits are speeding up -- mine have been really slow lately too.
Posted by: Debby | January 24, 2007 at 04:37 PM
That's a really great present! What was in it?
Chappy is so cute. Poor baby. Both babies, when the stollen is all gone.
Posted by: Carrie K | January 24, 2007 at 07:08 PM