Page 23 of Roux the Day

Bananas Foster was invented at Brennan's in 1951. It's been on fire every night since. Use firm bananas — overripe ones turn to mush!

Excerpt from MAURICE where Xavier notices Lissette:

His pulse quickened as he looked around for the source of the scream.

Another scream ripped through the air. It seemed to be coming from the alley between the insurance office and the yoga studio. He ran that direction and had just reached the entry to the alley when a woman ran out and plowed into him.

He wrapped his arms around her to steady her. “Hey, hey. I’ve got you. You’re safe. Are you all right? Did someone hurt you?”

“Yes. He slapped me,” she said, and looked up into his face with deep, dark eyes like pools of indigo. Her long black hair fell straight down her back in inky waves, and the flowy dress she wore lifted in the breeze like wings on a butterfly. “Thank you,” she said. “I think you scared him away.”

FELINA’S YEAR FOR KING CAKE

"FIND THE BABY, BUY THE NEXT CAKE — DEM'S THE RULES, CHER, NO EXCEPTIONS!"

DURATION

3.5 hours with rise

SERVING SIZE

16 Slices

INGREDIENTS

DOUGH:

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 packets active dry yeast

• ½ cup warm milk (110°F)

• ½ cup sugar + ¼ cup warm water

• 3 large eggs + ½ cup softened butter

• 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg

•FILLING: 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• ½ cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon

DECORATION:

• 2 cups powdered sugar + milk for icing

• Purple, gold & green sanding sugars

• 1 tiny plastic baby figurine

METHOD

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water + pinch of sugar. Proof 5 min.

2. Mix warm milk, sugar, eggs, softened butter; combine with yeast.

3. Knead in flour, spices 8–10 min until smooth and elastic.