Characterized by fancy masks, traditional food and grand balls, Mardi Gras — or Fat Tuesday — is celebrated all over the world. In the United States, New Orleans has one of the biggest citywide Mardi Gras celebrations, with big parades and elaborate festivities. While not everyone can make it to New Orleans to celebrate the holiday, here are recipes for the traditional king cake and classic beverages that will get you in the Mardi Gras spirit.

—Source: Sandra Lee, Food Network

King Cake

Ingredients:
• 1 can of bread sticks (Pillsbury brand recommended)
• 1 can of whipped cream cheese frosting (Pillsbury brand recommended)
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• Sanding sugar of different colors
• 1 heatproof plastic baby figure (optional)

How to make:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Open bread sticks, and press together the ends of two of the sticks to make one long stick. Repeat until you have six long sticks. Take three sticks at a time and loosely braid together. Pinch the braids together end to end, leaving a hole in the middle.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 16–20 minutes or until completely golden brown. Remove and cool completely. (Optional: Insert the baby into the cake in between the seams of the braid, as is Mardi Gras tradition. The person who gets the piece with the baby is supposed to provide the king cake for the following year.)
4. Combine the cream cheese frosting and heavy cream in a pot. Heat on low temperature until warm and smooth, stirring constantly.

Pour the glaze over cake and sprinkle with sanding sugars.

Mardi Gras Drinks

Storm of the Century Hurricane (alcoholic)

• 1 ounce light rum
• 1 ounce dark rum
• 1 ounce coconut rum
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce gin
• 1 ounce triple sec liqueur
• 3 ounces orange juice
• Orange slices, maraschino cherry for garnish
How to make: Fill a hurricane glass with ice. Add all the liquids one by one, and shake gently. Garnish with orange slices and a cherry, if desired. Serves one.

Non-alcoholic Hurricane

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces orange juice
• 3 ounces pineapple juice
• Sweet and sour mix
• 1 ounce grenadine syrup
• Pineapple and orange slices
How to make: After shaking the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, pour the mixture into a hurricane glass with ice. For additional flavor, top the drink with grenadine syrup and garnish it with fresh pineapple and orange slices. Serves one.

Watermelon fizz

Ingredients:

• 4 cups diced watermelon
• 8 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 1/3 cup ginger ale
• Lime wedges
How to make: Puree the watermelon in a blender. Strain the puree to divide the juice among four glasses filled with ice. Top each glass with two tablespoons of lime juice and 1/3 cup ginger ale. Garnish with watermelon and lime wedges.

Published on February 17, 2015 at 12:01 am