Berches Pain Au Pavot Food

BERCHES (PAIN AU PAVOT)

Steps:

• Dissolve the sugar and salt in the boiling water and add the oil; set aside to cool until lukewarm. Dissolve the yeast in the 1/2 cup of warm water (100°F), and set aside for 5 minutes. Add the yeast water to the flour and then the remaining water to which you had added salt, sugar and oil.
• Knead in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the dough hook, at the lowest speed until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Leave the dough to rest in the bowl, covered, for about 20 minutes, then place in the refrigerator to rise overnight.
• The following day, take out the dough and, without kneading it, divide it in half. Divide each half into 3, 4, or 6 pieces, depending on how many strands you want for shaping the braids.
• Roll each piece into a long, even strand, not too thin, and shape the braids. It is better to lightly flour each strand before braiding them. This will help keep the braided shape neat during baking.
• Sprinkle generously on a baking sheet with fine cornmeal or semolina and place the shaped breads on it, cover and leave them to rise for 1 1/2 or 2 hours, then brush them with yolk mixed with 1 tbsp of water and sprinkle with poppy seed if you like.
• Bake the bread in a preheated oven 425F for about 45-60 minutes.
• If you have a baking stone, preheat it for at least 45 minutes and bake the breads directly on it. Let the breads cool on a rack.

SPICED WASSAIL

Steps:

• Break the cinnamon stick into pieces, &--along with the whole cloves & whole allspice--tie the cinnamon pieces in a cheesecloth bag.
• Cut each orange in half.
• In a large covered saucepan, combine the cider, cranberry juice, sugar & orange bitters.
• Add the spice bag, oranges & rum extract, & simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Remove spices & pour into a warm serving bowl, leaving the oranges to float on top.

MIXED SPICE - TRADITIONAL OLD FASHIONED ENGLISH PUDDING SPICE

Steps:

• Grind the allspice, cinnamon and cloves to a fine powder and then mix well with the ground nutmeg and ginger.
• Add the finely ground cardamom and corainder seeds, if using, and mix well again.
• Use at once or store in an airtight jar in a cool dry place, and away from light.
• Makes an unusual and attractive gift, especially at Christmas - add a recipe tag and tie a ribbon around the top of the jar with pretty seasonal paper or material.