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By
Rhay Christou |
Read
the article “Santa
in Cyprus,” then ask an adult to help
you make this recipe for Vasilopita!
Vasilopita
(Saint Basil’s Bread) is a special sweet bread with a
coin hidden inside.
It is made the day of New Year’s Eve and shared shortly
after
the new year begins. Traditionally, the person who finds the
coin will
have good luck throughout the new year.
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You
will need:
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 cup butter, plus enough
to grease the pan
- 1 cup sugar
- ½
cup milk, slightly warmed
- 1 tablespoon yeast
- 5 eggs
- almonds
- ½
cup sesame seeds
- ½
teaspoon salt
- a quarter, washed and wrapped
in foil
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How to make
it:
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In a small bowl, dissolve the
yeast in the warm milk, and add 1 cup of flour. Stir
until the mixture thickens, then cover and set aside
in a warm place for 30 minutes.
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In the meantime, melt the butter.
Beat 4 eggs with the sugar. Mix the salt with the rest
of the flour. Make a small well in the flour, pour in
the yeast-dough mixture, and mix well. Add the butter
and eggs, and knead for about 15 minutes until it’s
creamy.
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Cover again, and leave to rise
for 1 hour.
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After the dough has risen, knead
again for 5 minutes and pour into a round greased baking
dish.
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Preheat
the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Beat 1 egg, spread it on top
of the dough, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Arrange
the almonds on top. If you wish, arrange them so that
they form the numbers of the new year.
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Place the dough in the oven for
70 to 90 minutes. If the top begins to get too brown,
cover with foil.
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Remove the bread, and turn off
the oven. After the bread has cooled, make a small slit
in the side, and slip the foil-wrapped coin into the
center.
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