Delirity

To the people/person who deleted my index page the other day… don’t come back, I really don’t appreciate you taking up my time, you certainly aren’t worth it.

I’ve been asked to share my hoska recipe. Since I know my recipe produces an excellent bread and I’ve seen the few other recipes out there on the net, I’ve decided that I do want to share the recipe. However, if you borrow my recipe please send me an e-mail or leave me a comment letting me know that you’ve borrowed it and how it turns 0ut. I don’t think that’s too much to ask…

Moomie’s Bohemian Hoska Twist- A Christmas Bread
Ingredients:
1/4 pound of butter (salted)
1 cup sugar
1/4 pound slivered almonds
2 packages of yeast
2 cups of milk
2 egg yolks
1 whole egg
1 tsp nutmeg, rounded
1 tbsp salt
1/4 tsp ground mace, rounded
1/2 pound golden raisins
6 cups flour

Before raising the bread, heat oven. Make sure the rack is as high as it will go to prevent from burning bottom of bread on the final bake.

1. Mix yeast, sugar, salt, nutmeg, mace and some almonds.
2. In a large bowl, take 1 � cups flour mix with yeast mixture.
3. Combine milk and butter in sauce pan, heat over low heat until liquids are 125 degrees.
4. Gradually add milk to the dry ingredients.
5. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Add egg yolk and � cup flour.
6. Beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
7. Stir in almonds and raisins, and enough additional flour to make stiff dough.
8. Knead dough on a lightly floured board until elastic (approx 8-10 minutes).
9. Put dough in greased bowl, put in warm (not on) oven covered with a towel until double in size.
10. Punch down dough.
11. On a greased pan, create the braided bread:
Divide dough in half (set one half aside in warm area)
Working with each half separately:
1. Divide in half
2. Take one half and divide into 3 equal parts. Roll out the 3 balls and braid. Pinch the ends together, and then put on the baking pan.
3. Take the other half and divide into 4 equal parts. Take 3 of the balls, roll them out and braid them. Set this braid on top the other. Pinch all the ends together.
4. Take the last ball and divide it in half. Roll out the halves (to about pencil thin) and twist them together. Then lay the twist on top the other 2 braids. Pinch the ends together.
12. Put toothpicks through layers to keep together (6 toothpicks).Raise the two breads until they�re double in size again.
13. Beat egg slightly. Use pastry brush to brush egg over Hoska, and then put almonds on top.
14. 35 minutes in oven at 350. But if it�s getting brown pull it out sooner.
15. Put it on a rack and pull out toothpicks.

Everyone keeps asking me, “So, are you ready for the holidays? I know I still need more time…” And actually, I’m quite ready. All my shopping is done and I have a pretty good handle on all my baking. It’ll be done in time for the party tomorrow night (as well as 2 extra loaves of hoska so I can take one to my grandpa). We even got a very good start on the tree last night and it should be finished up before mom and I each go out tonight. What can I say… time management can be a very good thing.

But mostly I’m ready for the holidays because as soon as Saturday rolls around, Jesse will be back down here with me. What can I say… I miss the guy! I haven’t seen him in somewhere around 3 weeks which is certainly too long. As excited as I am for the holiday party tomorrow, I know that for me, having Jesse back is going to be the highlight.

Oh, and honey, if I manage to find time to make snowflakes… do you think maybe you could help me hang them? (hehe… I thought about making snowflakes to hang for the party, then realized there probably won’t be time… but you never know…)

My hoska turned out! So far I’ve made 2 loaves and I plan to make at least 2 more before the holiday season is over. Last year (with a recipe off the internet instead of the one from my aunt) things didn’t turn out so well. Thank goodness it worked this year!

I go home today after my 2 pm final. I’ll be home by evening after a quick visit with an old friend. Since we have dial-up at home, I probably won’t be posting many pictures over the next month or so… but we’ll see how patient I can be. Anyway, winter break, here I come!