Feast Days Pinon Torte Food

FEAST DAYS PINON TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan. Refrigerate.
• In food processor, grind pine nuts until moist and meal-like. Add cornmeal and blend again about 30 seconds, just enough to combine.
• In a double boiler over medium-high heat, melt the butter and chocolate together, stirring occasionally so that they melt and blend evenly. Add to the pine nut mixture in the food processor and blend 30 seconds to a minute, until smooth.
• Beat the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla together in a bowl and add to the other ingredients in the food processor. Blend again until smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 20 minutes, or until the cake is firm and springs back slightly when pressed in the center. Do not overcook.
• Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Serve with peach honey (see recipe).

EASTER TWIST (TSOUREKI)

Steps:

• Mix yeast with water. Add 2 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Stir, then let stand in a warm place until mixture bubbles and foams, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl beat the 4 eggs. Add remaining 1 cup sugar, cooled milk, melted butter and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in yeast mixture. If using vanilla add to mixture. Otherwise, blend mahlepi to 3 1/2 cups flour. Add to egg mixture to make a stiff and elastic dough. Dough will be very sticky. Knead well on a floured board for about 5 minutes. Or use dough hook of an electric mixer.
• Place dough in a greased bowl; cover with plastic wrap and a damp towel. Let rise until almost double in bulk, about 3 hours. Punch down and turn over in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a damp towel and let rise again until almost double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously flour work area before rolling out dough. Separate dough into 3 balls. Roll into 14-inch-long ropes and braid. Place on greased round bread pan or cookie sheet and shape into a wreath. Let rise about 45 minutes until double in bulk. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Arrange 4 red eggs around the wreath. Bake 30 to 40 minutes until golden.