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Vasilopita
"The Vasilopita is a Greek New Year's Bread. It is made in honor of a beautiful act of charity by St. Basil to the poor and needy of his flock. In order to insure that the needy would have money for life's necessities, and knowing that the needy were also proud people, St. Basil had the ladies of his church bake sweet bread with coins baked into them. In this way he could give them money without demeaning them at all. It is therefore traditional to bake a coin into the Vasilopita (St. Basil's Bread). The one who receives the coin is considered to be especially blessed for the year." Original recipe yield: 1 - 8x8 inch pan.
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup warm milk
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/2 cup bread flour
6 cups bread flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup butter, melted
3 eggs
2 cups warm milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup chopped almonds
DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup milk, yeast and 1/2 cup flour. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Place 6 cups flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add salt, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, 3/4 cup melted butter, 3 eggs and milk. Mix thoroughly to make a thick dough.
Scoop the dough into a lightly greased 8x8 inch baking pan. Brush dough with melted butter, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
When dough has risen, insert a clean silver coin into the loaf. Brush dough with beaten egg and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes.
Rating: 0/0
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