Page 24 of Roux the Day

4. Rise 1.5 hours in oiled covered bowl until doubled.

5. Mix cream cheese filling. Roll dough into 18×12 rectangle.

6. Spread filling; roll into log; form oval ring on parchment sheet.

7. Rise 30 min. Bake 350°F for 25 min. Cool COMPLETELY.

8. Drizzle icing; immediately press alternating purple, gold, green sugar bands. Hide baby under bottom!

Hide the baby AFTER baking — press it gently through the bottom of the cooled cake. Whoever finds it buys next year's cake!

Excerpt from LUCAS:

Lying together after a break-in, Felina dares Lucas to try the cheesy pickup lines he never got to use on her — and rates each one mercilessly.

“How about this one...” He paused for effect. “Do you have a map? Because I get lost in your eyes.”

“Better,” she commented. “Kind of sweet without being sleazy.”

“Are you a garden?” he said. “Because I’m digging you.”

“Cute.”

“If you were a flower, I’d pick you.”

“Meh. Flowers die when you pick them,” she said. “Try again.”

He turned on his side to face her. “What would I say if I wanted a flower like you to kiss me?”

She looked toward him, her brow creasing. “I don’t know, what would you say?”

He flopped onto his back and grinned. “Plant one on me.”

“I’m just picturing some poor woman sitting beside you at a bar, rolling her eyes.” Her giggles continued. “Honey,” she said, choking on laughter, “you might be single for a lot longer with lines like that.”

DRINKS

HALLELUJAH IT’S A HURRICANE

“AFTER A FEW OF THESE, YOU'LL FEEL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN BLOWN AWAY.”

DURATION

3 minutes

SERVING SIZE

1 serving

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces of dark rum

• 2 ounces of white rum

• 2 ounces passion fruit juice

• 1 ounce orange juice