Vasilopita. Saint Vasillis New Years bread, the Greek Santa Claus. A sweet yeast bread, sort of a challa, sort of a panettone, sort of a brioche.
Vasilopita has the most wonderful Levantine, eastern Meditterenean flavorings: Mastic, Mahlepi, orange and almond flavored.
- Mastic, a resin obtained from a broad-leaved variety of Pistacia Lentiscus, mostly from the island of Chios.
- Mahlepi, is an aromatic spice made from the seeds of the St Lucie Cherry (Prunus mahaleb). The cherry stones are cracked to extract the seed kernel, which is about 5 mm diameter, soft and chewy on extraction, but ground to a powder before use. Its strong aroma means that it only need be used in very small quantities, the flavour being similar to a combination of bitter almond and cherry
A coin is inserted either at baking, or after it’s baked. The ritual of cutting the bread is prescribed by the traditions of the family. Some cut a piece first for God, one for Christ, one for the house, then it goes by family groupings and birth order.
The one who has the piece with the coin, will have good luck the whole year. The coin, should never be spent. In the old days, it was a gold coin. Now a quarter wrapped in foil will do. Maybe a Euro is prettier.
Recipe will follow when I make the bread later this week.
