Anyone have any good ideas for scrumptous, easy, Easter Breads? About time to get started on that!
Mariah

My family love this really fast to make bread.

Cuban Bread

5-6 cups of all purpose flour
( you can substitute whole wheat for 1 or 2 cups)
2 tablespoons dry yeast
2 tablespoons of sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups hot water (120 to 130 degrees)

Mix 4 cups of flour with the yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Pour in the water and mix really well. Add remaining flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 8 minutes. ( I add a ¼ to ½ cup of flour to my surface, when the flour is all absorbed, I know I have kneaded it enough. If the dough still feels really sticky add some more flour. Just don’t get the dough too dry.)

Place in a greased bowl covered with a dish towel and let set for 15 minutes. Punch down dough and divide into two pieces. shape into two round loaves, and place on a baking sheet. Cut a X ½ inch deep on top with a shape knife. (If you don’t cut a X in the bread it changes the texture to more like an English muffin.)

Place baking sheet on the middle shelf of a COLD oven. Place a cake pan (9x13”) filled half way full of very hot water on the lowest shelf. Turn oven on to 400 degrees. Bake 40 to 50 minutes until a deep golden brown. Mine is usually done in 45 minutes.


Hint: to make your own whole wheat flour, fill a one cup measuring cup with flour, remove one tablespoon of flour and replace it with one tablespoon of wheat germ.

thanks!

I have a delicious recipe for Easter braid bread, it's easy to make BUT is time consuming because you have to let it rise for about 1 hour, punch it down, let it rise again, then divide the dough, braid it and let it rise a bit more...then bake. It has a glazed frosting on it and I put jelly beans on also. Well, worth the time . I have been making them for 33 years. Let me know if you want the recipe and I will post it.

Yes, I want your recipe for Easter Bread. Sounds just like what I am looking for.
[email protected], or pm me.
Martha.
Thanks!

I have a recipe but I'm still in FL and the recipe is home. We leave Saturday to go back home. You have to make your own dough. It has lots of eggs in it and anise. You braid it and let it raise again.You can also put colored eggs between the braids. If you can wait until I get home, I'll post it.

Sounds good; I can't make it until about next Wed. anyway.
Have a good trip!
Martha/Mariah

Matraina I would love to have your recipe too, please. I love anise.

I won't bake before next Wed., so no problem.
M.

matraina wrote:
I have a recipe but I'm still in FL and the recipe is home. We leave Saturday to go back home. You have to make your own dough. It has lots of eggs in it and anise. You braid it and let it raise again.You can also put colored eggs between the braids. If you can wait until I get home, I'll post it.


I would like to have it too.

ITALIAN EASTER BREAD


8 c flour 1 ½ c sugar
1/4 t salt 1/3 c cleaned anise seeds

Mix above together and add 5 beaten eggs and 1 1/4 c warm milk in which 1 stick margarine has been melted.

Add 3 envelopes dry yeast dissolved in 3/4 c warm water (110̊ - 115̊F).

Mix all of above together. Add additional flour (up to 2 more cups) to make a stiff dough. Knead on lightly floured surface about 10-15 minutes until smooth and elastic. Put in a deep greased bowl, turning dough to coat top. Cover. Let raise in warm place until doubled in size, 1-2 hours. Punch down. Braid and put on greased cooky sheets or in bread pans. Cover. Let raise again until doubled in size. Brush tops of loaves with beaten eggs. You can put colored raw eggs between the braids, if you like. Bake at 300̊ about 45 minutes or until a pretty shade of brown.

Thank you so much Matraina.

Thanks!! I will maybe make it tomorrow, or for sure Wed.
Mariah/Martha.

Sounds good