Well....I was missing my grandmothers (Grammie and Baba) when I dragged out the family recipe so I decided to toast them both (with that homemade slivovica from Boris poured in to two of Grammie's glasses: one for the Bakas and one for me). I then headed outside to talk to the dog and dress us alike for the occasion (note the bright pink bandanas). Bissou was not impressed but it lifted my melancholy .
I left him outside to chase the ducks and went to work on my bread.
This year's bread is a bit different. I "strayed" from the Jerkovič recipe and chose to use my Mom's from the now out of print family cookbook (long painful story about my short lived career as a publisher LOL). I have separated the steps in the ingredients....like my Mom does.
Next, turn on some Oliver (or go to You Tube and play one of his older pop songs. Oliver is sort of like the Cro version of Sinatra). Turn it up. You'll suddenly get the urge to talk with your hands and swear about the underwear of saints (another long story). Next step, walk over and shut the windows and doors .....cause you don't want any Propuh in the house......
Now...get baking!
Sretan Uskrs!
(#1)
1/2 c warm water
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp salt
3 packages of fresh yeast (old stuff will kill ya!)
1/2 c flour
(#2)
1 1/2 cubes of butter
1/2 c regular milk
1 c sugar
6 oz evaporated milk
(#3)
3 whole eggs (organic is best)
1 egg separated (save whites for brushing tops)
Zest of one orange
Juice of one orange
1/2 lemon zested
1 T anise flavoring
1/2 c sugar
4 oz slivovica (or high quality booze that is lighter colored, like a brandy. NO vodka or gin. Yuck! If also used some tangello from my pal Robyn)
2 1/2 c flour (to start....more like 5 c all together)
Take top section and place in a bowl and mix to a batter. Place batter in a quiet warm spot (you may have to move a sleeping Croatian.....they like those spots for naps. Mom says try the oven (which should be off!)
Move to group two and place them in a sauce pan and mix and warm till butter is melted. Keep on low and don't boil.
Take all of the final group (#3) BUT the flour and mix them in a very large bowl. Slowly mix in the sauce pan stuff alternating with sifted flour. Should be a batter at this point. Mix in the batter next to the sleeping Croatian guy ...the stuff in the off oven). Mix well and add flour until it makes a soft dough. Fold on to a floured surface and kneed for 8 to 10 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl and let raise for about an hour.
Punch down and shape in to round loaves. I put mine in cereal bowls or those tin foil baking pans. Let ire to double their size while preheating oven to 350. Bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Note: about 10 minutes before complete, brush with egg whites and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Heaven when toasted. Dobar tek!
Hello! I was wondering if you would be interested in joining my local blog network – Central Valley Connection - that is set to launch mid-May?
ReplyDeleteCentral Valley Connection is made up of local bloggers, businesses and individuals sharing their experiences, perspectives and insight into life in the Central Valley.
Seeking to serve the community, Central Valley Connection will offer a detailed community calendar of events for the entire Central Valley, and has plans to regularly partner with local businesses and attractions to host giveaways and discounts.
Many farms, restaurants, attractions and businesses have agreed to open their doors to host local bloggers for coverage in Central Valley Connection once it launches, providing local bloggers that join our network with product review opportunities in their own back yard, and a great way to be an influencer and a voice in their immediate community.
To start, I would like to ass a few of your posts to the “Natural Living”, “Places to See” and “Local Flavor” section of our website for the upcoming launch. This would entail a thumbnail and a page that features 1-3 opening paragraphs of your post and 1-2 images, and then a link to your article for the actual recipe. Each page would be headed with your blogs banner to redirect to your site.
The articles I am interested in adding to CVC are:
Easter Bread
Nothing Says Love Like Lasagna
How To Make White Chocolate Cashew Brittle
Barbecued Okra
If you are interesting in joining our network, your blog would be listed under the “Local Bloggers” category, and you would be giving Central Valley Connection permission to periodically feature your latest posts, each time using the above format (heading the post with your banner, 1-3 paragraphs, 1-2 photos and a link to the actual article on your blog).
Additionally, as a thank you and a “Welcome to the Network!”, bloggers and businesses joining Central Valley Connection will be given the chance to enter to win an eco-friendly personalized t-shirt package from Crooked Brook with your blog name and / or logo embroidered on it!
While we feel this would be a great chance to build SEO and review local product, we hope it will also be a way to connect local bloggers on a personal level - once we get into the swing of things, my husband and I are daydreaming of hosting occasional local blogger get-togethers and foodie parties! (The reactions to this idea are either wildly enthusiastic or a little weirded out, haha. Let me know where you fall the meet up scale.) ^_^
So let me know if you’d like to join our network! We’d love to have you!
Gingi Freeman
www.centralvalleyconnection.com
http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com (My personal “mom” blog!)
Yes....would love to!! I can't take credit for all of the recipes you want. Specifically, the cashew brittle that belongs to my wonderful sister who blogs now at http://notyamomshomeec.blogspot.com/ Check her out.
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