The Day of the Dead is celebrated with plenty of delicious and scrumptious foods that are offered to the dead and also consumed by the celebrators. Here is a quick and easy recipe to prepare your very own “pan de muerto” or bread of the dead.
Ingredients:
4 cups of all-purpose flour6 eggs1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon dry yeast1/4 cup lukewarm water1/2 cup melted butteregg wash (1 egg white plus 1/2 egg yolk)sugar for sprinklinganise and nutmegorange-flower water (optional)
Preparation:
Combine yeast, water and 1/3 cup of flour and let the mixture stand until it doubles in volume.In a large bowl, place remaining flour and in the center add the eggs, salt, sugar, anise, butter, nutmeg and orange-flower water and beat together. Add the yeast mixture, combining it with the dough.Knead mixture on a floured surface for 15 minutes or until the dough no longer sticks to the surface.Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth and let it rise in a warm area for about 3 hours or until it doubles in volume.Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.Pinch off about 1/3 of the dough and form into a 2-inch ball. Shape ball into a long rope that resemble bones and set aside.Shape remaining dough into a round loaf and lightly graze with the egg wash.Place the ball of dough in the center of the loaf and arrange the “bones” around the ball. Then glaze with the remaining egg wash.Place the bread in the oven and let bake for 10 minutes.Lower the temperature to 350 degrees F for 30 more minutes.Remove from oven when the time is up and sprinkle the bread with sugar.Serve at room temperature and enjoy.