The theme for Tie One On for November is to share a holiday recipe and show an apron. Any apron. That's it. I wanted to make it easy on us all. . so find your favorite apron, take a photo, and dig though your recipe cards. And while you are at it, please check out Hannah's cool new food/recipe blog, the recipe box. She has some great recipes already up and even a pdf of a super cool blank recipe card to print out, all ready for your box. I think we should all e-mail her our Tie One On recipes as well for this awesome project, can't have too much of good thing.
This is one of my all time favorite family recipes. It comes from our family cookbook that my mom and aunts put together in 1981, which deserves it's own post. The apron is one of my all time favorites that I thought would kind of go with the recipe. I got it for Christmas last year and love it to bits. Best pockets ever.
Christmas Braid
2 3/4 cup flour
1 package yeast
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
In a mixing bowl combine the yeast, 3/4 cup flour, and cardamom. In a small sauce pan (or the microwave) heat the milk, butter, and sugar until warm. (not hot) Add the milk mixture to the dry and mix on low for 30 seconds, scrape. Add egg. Beat for 3 min on a high speed. Slowly add the remaining flour to make a soft dough (you may us a little less or a little more flour than the 2 remaining cups.) Mix until the dough is smooth, (use a dough hook here) Put in a greased bowl to rise until doubled (depends on the yeast you use, 30-50 minutes) Punch down dough. Turn onto a floured surface and make 3 balls. Let rest for 10 min. Roll balls into 3 ropes (16" long) and braid loosely. Start in the middle and work out to each end, tucking/pinching ends under. Cover with a towel and let rise again until double in size.** Brush braid with a little milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.
**I always pre-heat the oven during the second rise and put the dough nearby or even on top of the oven. It makes it rise faster.
The smell of this braid baking is 100% Christmas to me. It's wonderful with butter and jam and even better as French toast the next morning. Thanks grammie!! Send me your favorite family recipe and apron photo. . share the love, man!
