Česnica // Christmas bread

(for english scroll down)

Recept sam posudila od Ivane sa njenog engleskog bloga Dolce Fooda sa malim izmjenama.

Sastojci:
2 1/4 solje brasna (ja sam stavila solju integralnog i solju 1/4 bijelog)
1 1/5 solja toplog sojinog mlijeka
15 g  suhog kvasca
prstohvat morske soli
1 zlicica smedjeg secera
1/4 solje maslinovog ulja
1 jaje

Priprema:
1.U zdjeli prosijati brasno, pa dodati sve ostale sastojke. Sve dobro pomijesati drvenom kutlacom.
2. Prebaciti tijesto na pobrasnjenu povrsinu i mijesiti tijesto jedno 5-8 minuta.
3. Napraviti kuglu, staviti u posudu, prekriti cistom krpom i ostaviti na toplom mjestu da se nadigne jedno sat vremena.
4. Kad tijesto naraste podijelite ga u 2 dijela, jedan veci, a jedan manji. Od veceg tijesta napraviti kuglu te je staviti u okrugli pleh prekriven pek papirom. Manji dio tijesta podijeliti u 3 dijela, napraviti 3 trake (dovoljno dugacke da se omota oko veceg dijela) i isplesti pletenicu.
5. Pletenicu postaviti na veci dio tijesta. Pokriti i ostaviti da se tijesto dize jos jedno sat vremena.
6. Rernu zagrijati na 390 F (200 C).
7. Staviti manju zdjelicu sa vodom u rernu zbog pare.
8. Tijesto premazati umucenim jajetom i peci 20-ak minuta na 390 F pa smanjiti na 350 F i peci jos 20-ak minuta dok ne dobije rumenu boju. I sto bi Ivana sa Dolce Fooda bloga rekla "I moli se da dobijes parce sa novcicem!" =)))
9. Meni je pletenica ispala malo kratka, pa sam pokusala napraviti kruskice i ruzicu, ali kad se tijesto ponovo nadiglo, malo su se poremetili oblici.. =)

Мир Божији, Христос се роди!

свима који данас славе Божић!

~~~~~~~~~~~ English version ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas Bread

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour (I put 1 cup whole wheat and the rest white)
1 1/2 cup warm soy milk
1/2 oz active yeast
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp brown sugar
5 tbsp olive oil
1 egg

1. In a bowl sift the flour and add all other ingredients. Transfer the dough onto floured surface and knead for about 5-8 minutes (add more flour if needed).

2. Form round shape and put into a bowl, cover and leave it in a warm place to double in size.
3. When the dough has doubled divide into 2 pieces-one bigger and one smaller for braiding.
4. Shape the bigger piece into a round shape and put on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. Divide smaller dough into 3 pieces. Roll out the pieces into strands and braid them.
5. Put braid on the top of the bigger dough.
6. Beat the egg and brush the dough. Cover and leave to rise for another hour.
7. Preheat oven to 390 F and bake for about 20 minutes then lower the heat to 350 F and bake for another 20 minutes. And as Ivana from Dolce Fooda blog would say "and pray that you get the piece with the coin!" =))) In the past people used to put coin in the bread and the person who gets the piece with the coin would be considered lucky for the whole year!

Merry Christmas to all of my friends 

who celebrate Orthodox Christmas today!

--
ae!