Happy Easter Petals!
Sorry I've been M.I.A the past two weeks, but I've had a few coursework deadlines. I'm now (finally) back down in London visiting my dad for half term :-) Over the past few days, I've been lusting over all the Easter inspired recipes bloggers have been sharing... anything including Cadbury's creme eggs is an instant bookmark!
Since Greek Easter falls a little later this year, on May 5th, we thought we'd bake our traditional 'Tsoureki' a little early.
Tsoureki is a sweet bread that's baked during Pasxa and is famous for its red egg center. The tradition is that two people play a game called 'tsougrisma', by tapping each others. The person who successfully cracks their opponents egg fist, has good fortune for the rest of the year.
As we couldn't find any 'mahlab' spice this year, we followed Jamie Oliver's recipe - found in his 'Recipe Yearbook 2012/13' magazine...
Ingredients list:
- 300ml milk
- 20g of yeast
- 80g butter
- 625g flour
- 1 tsp salt
- Grated zest of 1 orange
- 110g sugar
- 3 tbsp orange juice
- 2 eggs
- 1 hard-boiled red-dyed egg
First things first, heat the milk in a small pan until tepid. Spoon 2 tablespoons into a cup and stir in the yeast.
Add the butter to the milk, and stir as it melts. Set aside and leave to cool.
In the meantime, place 125g of the flour in a bowl add salt, zest and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Now stir in the yeast and then the milk mix. Beat until you make a batter.
Cover the batter and leave for 20 minutes, until the mixture is bubbly.
Whist your waiting, squeeze the oranges.
After 20 minutes, add the remaining flour, sugar, orange juice and eggs, and mix into a soft dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for a few minutes.
Place in a bowl, cover and leave for 1 - 1 1/2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size.
Divide the dough into three long ropes, pinch them together at one end, then braid into a plaited loaf. Sit the egg in the middle. Preheat the oven to 180C (gas 4). Line a baking sheet with baking paper, sit the bread on it and leave out for 30 minutes, until it's doubled in size. Pop in the oven to bake for 20 minutes.
Since Greek Easter falls a little later this year, on May 5th, we thought we'd bake our traditional 'Tsoureki' a little early.
Tsoureki is a sweet bread that's baked during Pasxa and is famous for its red egg center. The tradition is that two people play a game called 'tsougrisma', by tapping each others. The person who successfully cracks their opponents egg fist, has good fortune for the rest of the year.
As we couldn't find any 'mahlab' spice this year, we followed Jamie Oliver's recipe - found in his 'Recipe Yearbook 2012/13' magazine...
Ingredients list:
- 300ml milk
- 20g of yeast
- 80g butter
- 625g flour
- 1 tsp salt
- Grated zest of 1 orange
- 110g sugar
- 3 tbsp orange juice
- 2 eggs
- 1 hard-boiled red-dyed egg
Before we get crackalackin on the recipe, you need to dye the eggs. My grandma usually sends over the dye, but the other week I found Lidl's equivalent which was just £1.50. I'm sure red food colouring works just as good :-)
Whilst the loaf is baking, make your orange glaze by heating 2 tbsp of sugar and 3 tbsp of freshly squeezed orange juice. Brush the bread with the glaze, then return to the oven for another 20 minutes, until golden.
I hope you've had a wonderful day with your families & eaten far too much :-)
