Happy New Year everyone!!!
May 2016 bring us health, joy, happiness, unforgettable memories and new challenges!!!!!
The past year was quite difficult for my country (Greece ) but i hope and I’m sure that the new year will bring us peace, love and laughter to out faces. 2015 was very special for me as a dream came true and now I’m able to talk with all of you guys through The Yummie. I’m ready for a year full of new recipes and tasteful moments that I’m going to share with you.
As you all know, I’m a proud Greek. We celebrate Christmas and New Years Eve traditionally. One of my favourite tradition is the annual Greek New Year’s Eve Cake also known as : Vasilopita.
A special cake is baked before New Year’s Eve. This cake can be either a cake or sweet bread ( in Greek its called Tsoureki ).This tradition is observed in honor of our Holy Father Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia – hence its name Vasilopita.
Oh i forgot the best part. A small coin is hidden in the dough before baking. Just after News Year’s Eve dinner at midnight all families cut their own Vasilopita to bless the house and bring good luck. A piece is sliced for each family member and any guests present at the time, beginning from the eldest and ending with youngest. Whoever receives the slice that contain the hidden coin is considered to be blessed and lucky for the New Year.
Here is a very simple but tasteful traditional recipe for our Vasilopita. It’s not necessary to use the recipe just for Vasilopita. You can also use it to make a great simple cake with orange flavour. My mom always uses this recipe and its my all time favourite. Have a try.
Hope you like it!!!!!
xoxo
- 250gr butter
- 500gr self rising flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- orange zest ( 1 orange )
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- powdered sugar for decoration
- Preheat oven to 180 C ( 350 F ) and butter a round cake pan
- In a stand mixer bowl beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy for 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time and continue beating for 2 minutes
- Add the milk , vanilla extract and the flour.
- In the end add the orange zest and mix softly.
- Bake for 1 hour
- Remove from oven and let it cool on a rack
- Decorate with powdered sugar
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