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Ingredients
8
cups flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 lb. butter (1 stick)
3 egg yolks
2 cups milk
( lukewarm )
1
packet of yeast
1 tbs. Lemon
zest (to taste)
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Kolach
STEP 1 "Prepare the Yeast"
Into a
measuring cup or small bowl, mix the yeast with a teaspoon of sugar
and about a half cup of the "lukewarm" milk. Set aside. This
activates the yeast.
STEP 2
"Mix eggs and milk"
Into a
medium mixing bowl, beat the 3 egg yolks and then add the rest
of the lukewarm milk. Mix well. Set aside.
STEP 3
"Mix dry ingredients with butter"
Into a
large mixing bowl, add the sugar and salt to 8 cups of sifted flour.
Add about a
tablespoon of lemon zest and equal amount of lemon juice. ( More or
less to taste.)
Add
the butter, mix
with your hands (as for a pie crust) until the butter is well mixed
with the flour and has a real fine texture.
STEP 4
"Make the dough"
Combine
the
beaten "egg & milk - mixture" and the "activated yeast" to the flour
mixture. Beat the dough until it comes clean from the bowl.
STEP 5
"Knead and Rise" (Twice)
Form the
dough into a ball and place into a large clean bowl and cover with a
damp cloth. Set aside and let rise for about 2 hours. The dough will
more than double in size.
Once the
dough rises, remove from the rising bowl and place on a lightly floured
counter
top or kneading board. Knead the dough. (For about five minutes or
so.)
Again form
the dough into a ball and place in the bowl, covered with a damp
cloth. Set aside and let
it rise. This time, it takes about 1 hour.
STEP 6
"Make the Braid & Cross"
(
While
the dough rises for the second time, lets make the braid and cross.
)
Into a
medium mixing bowl, add
3/4 cups water to 2 cups flour and a pinch of salt.
Mix well into a workable dough, until smooth.
Make a
braid and cross. (or a braided cross or other decretive items for
the top of your "Slava" bread)
When dough has raised the second time, place it on a large greased
baking sheet. (Using baking "parchment paper" is optional.)
Attach
the cross and braid on the bread
by ether a dab
of water or egg.
(An egg
wash on the top of the bread is optional.)
STEP 7
"Bake"
In a preheated oven.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 1
hour and 10 minutes.
Enjoy
!
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Variation:
In addition to or in place of the Lemon zest
and juice used in Step 3, you can substitute or add a teaspoon of
Vanilla extract.
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