New Year's Day, Vasilopitta Bread Recipe
Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. Dry yeast
- 1/4 c. Hot water
- 1/2 tsp Each.. cinnamon, anise seeds, orange peel
- 1 x Bay leaf
- 1 ounce Ouzo (optional)
- 1/2 c. Water
- 1/2 c. Warm lowfat milk
- 1/4 lb Butter
- 7 c. Unbleached flour, unsifted
- 1 c. Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 3 x Large eggs
- 12 x Walnut halves
Directions
- The Greeks wrap coins in foil and knead them into this bread. They believe anyone who finds a coin will have good luck in the coming year.
- Dissolve yeast in hot water and set aside. Put spices, orange peel,bay leaf, and ouzo in a pot with the 1/2 c. water and bring to a boil. Set aside to steep and cold. Heat lowfat milk and remove from heat. Add in the butter and allow the lowfat milk to cold slightly. Put the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Fold in Large eggs, yeast, lowfat milk mix, and flavored water (remove only the bay leaf) Stir the mix till all the flour has been absorbed.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead till smooth, about 20 min. Place in a buttered bowl, and flip the dough so the top is greased as well. Cover with a towel dampened with warm water. Set in a hot, draft free place to rise till doubled in bulk, about 4-6 hrs.
- Punch down the dough and knead for about 5 min. Shape into one large round loaf and decorate the top with walnut halves. Set aside to rise once more, about 2 hrs (uncovered). Bake in a preheated 350 F oven for 1 hour.
- Makes 1 loaf.
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