SNIFF!: Family Traditions

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Family Traditions

So there is one family tradition that I've had in my life since, well, forever. It's getting to be that time of year again and this time I must share the recipe so the tradition can head to Australia. I took the tradition to Germany many years ago, and although at first it wasn't well-received (I was supposed to be learning about German traditions!), but when I presented it as a gift from me to the family, it soon became a favorite and requested treat!

Poteca

(Grandma Dimzoff pronounced it Puh-va-teetza)

1/4 c. warm water

3/4 c. warm milk

1 tsp. salt

1/4 c. soft butter/shortening

1 pkg. yeast

1/4 c. sugar

1 egg

3-1/2 - 3-3/4 c. flour

In bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add milk, sugar, salt, egg, shortening, and half of flour to the yeast. Mix with spoon until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to handle easily. Knead for about 5 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double, about 1-1/2 hours. Punch down and let rise again, about 30 minutes. Place dough on a large well-floured cloth and roll out almost paper thin into an oblong (30"x20"). Spread with walnut filling (below), bringing it to edges. Starting at the wide side of the oblong, lift cloth and let dough roll up like a jelly roll. Seal well by pinching edges into dough. Place on greased baking sheet in a horseshoe shape. Let rise until almost double (1 hour). Heat oven to 325° and bake for 40-45 minutes or until brown.

Walnut Filling:

1/4 c. soft butter

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 c. walnuts (finely ground, not chopped!)

1/2 c. brown sugar, packed

1/4 c. milk

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix butter, brown sugar and egg. Stir in milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Blend in nuts. (Sometimes I double this, or at least 1-1/2 times it!)

And here are the pictures I took during the process. It was a perfect day -- clear skies and cold temperatures - to bake bread!