New Year’s Bread/Vasilopeta
Ingredients :
· 1 package active dry yeast
· 1/4 c. warm water
· 1/2 c. milk
· 1/3 c. butter
· 1/2 c. sugar
· 3 eggs
· 2 tsp. grated orange peel*
· 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
· 1/2 tsp. salt
· 3 c. unsifted all-purpose flour
· 1 egg yolk mixed with
· 1 tbsp. water blanched almonds
How To Make :
· Sprinkle yeast into the warm water and stir just enough to blend. Let stand until dissolved.
· In a small pot, heat milk and butter together until butter melts. Be careful not to let the mixture boil.
· Empty mixture into a large bowl and add sugar. Cool to lukewarm. Add eggs one at a time and beat with a fork or whisk until smooth. Add yeast. Mix in orange peel, lemon peel, and salt.
· Gradually add 3 c. of flour, beating on low with an electric mixer for 5 minutes.
· Place dough on a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and no longer sticky (about 5 to 10 minutes). If necessary, knead in additional flour.
· Place dough in a large greased bowl and grease the top of the dough lightly with melted butter. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until dough has doubled in size (about 1.25 hours).
· Put risen dough on a lightly floured board and knead lightly.
· If you want, put a washed silver coin in the dough. Shape into a round cake about 9 inches in diameter. Place the dough on a greased bak-ing sheet.
· Cover and let rise until doubled (about 40 minutes). Preheat oven to 325ºF.
· Brush egg yolk mixture evenly over the loaf. Arrange almonds on top forming the numerals of the coming year. Bake 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.