Today is Mardi Gras! Celebrate 'New Orleans style' with a King Cake. The maker of each King Cake hides a token in the cake after it is baked. It can be a dried bean or a tiny plastic "baby". Whoever finds the token gets good luck the following year and has to provide the King Cake at the next party.

If you were lucky enough to get the "baby" but don't have a clue how to make a King Cake, take heart - King Arthur Flour has created a complete King Cake Mix, inlcuding the yeast dough, filling and icing mix with colored sprinkles. (You have to get your own "baby".)

A symbol of good luck and protection in Japan, a Daruma Doll is traditionally given to someone starting a new venture, celebrating a birthday, or at the beginning of a New Year. At the start of an endeavor, one eye is painted and a wish is made for good luck. The other eye is painted when the goal is reached.

There is a big change coming, and I have a feeling that with this next year we will need all the luck we can get to put our country on a new path. Maybe we should band together and send a bunch of these to the White House. What do you say?

Another great southern tradition is the Mint Julep Cup. It is silver plated and can be monongrammed with initials. (Interlocking initials are for the ladies, dear.)  We didn't invent this cup style, but we have carried it on.

Mint Julep

2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water (branch water is ideal)
Fresh Mint
Crushed Ice
Kentucky Bourbon (2 ounces per serving)

Today is Mint Julep Day. Bring your glass and meet me on the veranda!