Joannas Nut Roll Food

JOANNA'S NUT ROLL

Steps:

• Heat 2 cups of milk in a saucepan over low heat until the milk just comes to a simmer; remove from heat, and let cool. Mash the cake yeast with the warm water in a bowl, and set aside.
• In a bowl, whisk together the flour with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of nutmeg. In a separate large bowl, mash the butter with 1 cup of sugar and the salt until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Beat in 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. After milk is cooled to a warm temperature, stir the yeast mixture into the scalded milk, and stir the milk mixture to the creamed butter mixture. Beat in 3 cups of flour until completely incorporated, and beat in remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the mixture forms a smooth dough that's almost sticky. Dough will be very soft.
• Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Place the dough into an oiled bowl, and turn the dough over to coat all sides with oil. Cover with a floured kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 2 to 3 hours.
• Punch down the dough, cut into 6 equal pieces, and roll each piece into a ball. Cover with floured kitchen towel, and set the balls into a warm place to rise until doubled, 40 minutes to 1 hour.
• While dough is rising the second time, make the nut filling: tear toasted bread into a few pieces, and grind toast with walnuts and pecans in a food grinder, or process in the work bowl of a food processor until finely chopped. Place the nuts into a bowl; mix in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 cup of honey, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of nutmeg until thoroughly combined. Mix in milk, a little at a time, to make a workable mixture.
• Beat egg whites to stiff peaks in a bowl with an electric mixer, and gently fold the egg whites into the nut mixture until completely combined.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out each piece of dough on a floured surface into a 12-inch square; brush with melted butter. Spread 1/6 of the nut mixture onto each square of dough, and roll each into a log; pinch ends and seam tightly together, and tuck the ends underneath the roll. Place filled rolls on the prepared baking sheet, seam sides down.
• Beat egg yolks and 1/2 cup of milk together in a small bowl, and brush the rolls with the egg yolk mixture. If desired, allow to rise 30 more minutes (for more puffy rolls). Poke holes in the rolls every 4 inches.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 50 to 65 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of a roll will come out clean. Brush rolls with melted butter after removing from oven; allow to cool on racks.

POTICA (CROATIAN NUT ROLL)

Steps:

• Stir yeast into water.
• Mix butter, milk, sugar, and salt.
• Add egg yolks, yeast mixture and 2 cup flour.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Add remaining flour and turn dough out on a floured surface.
• Knead until smooth, elastic and does not stick to surface.
• Place in greased bowl and let rise 1 hour.
• Grease your baking pan.
• Filling: mix milk, salt, margarine and sugar.
• Heat slightly until margarine melts and sugar is dissolved.
• Add nuts then to stretch mixture you can fold in beaten egg whites.
• After it has risen, divide into 4 equal parts.
• Do not knead.
• Roll each piece to about 1/8 inch thick.
• Spread with cooled filling.
• Roll jelly-roll style and place seam down in a greased pan.
• Let rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake 40 - 45 minutes.

NUT ROLL

Steps:

• Fillings: Pecan Filling: Melt 1 cup (2 sticks) magarine over low heat.
• Stir in 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup vanilla extract.
• Add 7 cups of ground pecans and blend well.
• Maple Walnut Filling: Melt 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) margarine over low heat.
• Stir in 1/2 cup sugar, 3 Tablespoons imitation maple flavor.
• Add 5 cups ground walnuts and blend well.
• Dough: In a large bowl, thoroughly mix 2 cups flour, sugar salt and undissolved yeast.
• In a sauce pan, combine sour cream, water and magarine.
• Heat over low heat until mixture is very warm (120°-130°F), margarine does not need to melt.
• Gradually add to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes with electric mixer at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Add eggs and 1 cup flour.
• Beat mixture at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Stir in enough additional flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn dough on to a lightly floured board; knead a few times to form a ball.
• Cover dough and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Divide dough into 4 equal pieces.
• Roll each piece into a 14x12 nch rectaangle.
• Spread each piece of dough with 1/4 of the nut filling.
• Roll each one up (from the long side), as for a jelly roll.
• Seal edges.
• Place rolls on greased baking sheets, sealed edges down.
• Cover and let rise in a warm, draft free place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).
• Bake rolls at 350°F for about 35 minutes, or until done.
• Remove from baking sheets, and cool on wire racks.
• When cool, drizzle tops of rolls with confectioner's sugar frosting (optional).