I remember one particular New Year’s Day meal at my Mother’s home. My brothers, sister, their families and mine, were all gathered together for her traditional dinner. Mother always placed a silver coin in the Vasilopita. The meaning of this was that whoever had the piece of bread with the silver coin would have good luck for the coming year. It was a wonderful (and still is) tradition for the New Year. As we were all sitting around the dining room table eating more bread than meat, hoping that we would be the lucky one to get the coin, I happened to look up and saw my Mother standing in the doorway watching all of us. At first, I thought she was crying, but then I noticed that she was laughing as she held up her hand with the silver coin between her fingers…She forgot to put the silver coin in the Vasilopita! We had eaten all the bread so there wasn’t any leftover to take home with us. I remember how all we were laughing, but what I remember most was the beautiful smile on my Mother’s face. I bake this bread often for the memory of that day and I can still remember the aroma that filled my Mother’s home…

So, follow my recipe and you could bake memories for yourself and your children… Enjoy

Vasilopita Bread (makes 3 to 4 loaves)

3 packages yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon sugar

2 cups whole milk
1 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup water

2 sticks butter (softened)
1 - 1/2 sugar
5 large eggs

1 tablespoon olive oil

5 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla flavoring

Topping

3 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon water

In a large bowl, soften yeast and sugar in the warm water. Set aside for 10 minutes, allowing combination to foam. Heat milk, orange juice, cinnamon and water in a large sauce pan over medium heat until warm.

In another bowl, beat softened butter until fluffy. Continue beating while adding in the sugar and eggs until thoroughly mixed. Take the yeast mixture and fold into the milk mixture. Add in the remaining ingredients a little at a time. Transfer the mixture to a hard surface and knead well until soft dough is formed. Grease a large bowl with vegetable oil. Place dough in bowl and turn over, coating all sides of the dough with the oil. Cover with a towel and allow rising until more than doubled. It may take 3 hours or more.

Knead dough again for a few minutes, allowing all of the air to escape. Form into desired shape and place in greased baking pans. Beat egg yolks and water. Combine with sesame seeds and brush on the tops of the dough. Allow to rise again for 2-3 hours or until doubled in size.

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes or until is done. Check by inserting a skewer in the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, the bread is cooked. Allow to cool thoroughly before wrapping in foil or plastic wrap. It freezes well.

Braided Loaves (alternative to baking in a pan)

Form dough into three balls about the size of an orange. Roll each ball into a 10” strip. Place the 3 strips side by side and braid. Place on a cookie sheet and tuck the ends under. Brush with sesame seed egg mixture. Bake one pan at a time.