A main aspect of the Day Of the Dead is the alter. One of the main contriputions to the alter is food, so as part of our research into the items placed on the alter we decided to try out some recipes. The recipes found and the photographs taken could be turned into a handout available at the exhibition to encorage familys to learn about the Day of The Dead at home through cooking.
Day Of The Dead Bread
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 3/4 oz. (5-1/2 Tbs.) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- Two 4- by 1-inch strips of orange zest (use a vegetable peeler; avoid the white pith)
- 1 Tbs. orange blossom water
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 oz. (1-3/4 tsp.) active dry yeast
- 15 3/4 oz. (3-1/2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
- Vegetable oil as needed
For the topping:
- 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Directions:
- Make the dough: Put the milk, butter, and orange zest in a small saucepan over medium heat; stir until the butter melts, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool until warm. Discard the orange zest, add the orange blossom water, and whisk in the eggs.
- Dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup lukewarm water (no hotter than 110 degrees F) and let stand until the mixture bubbles slightly, 5 to 10 minutes. (If the yeast doesn’t bubble, discard it and start again with new yeast.)
- Mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the center. Gradually pour the yeast mixture and the milk mixture into the well while mixing with your hand.
- Knead until you have a nice, uniform dough, about 10 minutes. The dough should be smooth but still slightly sticky. If it seems too sticky, add more flour as needed.
- Put the dough in a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and leave in a warm place (about 70 degrees F) until doubled in size, 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
- Shape the bread: Cut off a piece of dough about the size of a lemon and reserve. Divide the remaining dough in half and shape the pieces on a lightly floured surface into 2 rounds. Lightly oil a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet or line it with parchment; put the dough rounds on it and flatten the tops with your hands.With some of the reserved dough, form 2 balls the size of large marbles; set aside and cover with plastic. Divide the remaining dough into 6 pieces and roll them with your hands from the center out, making ropes that are slightly longer than the width of the loaves. As you’re rolling, press with your index and middle fingers spread about 1 inch apart to make knobs that represent bones. Arrange 3 of the ropes on top of each dough round, overlapping the ropes in the center. Cover loosely with a cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Dab a little cold water on the top center of each round where the ropes meet and put the reserved dough balls on top, pressing slightly so they adhere.
- Bake until the loaves have an even golden color, 30 to 40 minutes. Cover the loaves loosely with foil and continue to bake until their bottoms are browned and the internal temperature is 190 degrees F, 10 to 15 minutes more.
- Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes on a wire rack.Top the bread: Brush the loaves all over with some of the melted butter. Holding one from the bottom (if it’s too warm, use an oven mitt or a piece of cardboard), sprinkle half of the sugar all over the top, tilting the loaf slightly to help coat it evenly. Repeat with the other loaf and remaining sugar.
- Cool to room temperature before serving. The bread is best eaten within a day of baking.Makes 2 loaves.
