Subject: Pan de Muerto
From: Unicorn (unicorn@indenial.com)
Date: Sun Aug 27 2000 - 03:33:20 EDT
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F O O D F U N N Y
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Reader Corine-Ann Barnes proves once again that fact is funnier than
fiction:
A cousin from Ohio comes to South Carolina every year and occasionally
hosts family reunions. One year she served a mixed Low-country
seafood dinner. The shrimp were done first, so she served everyone
outside in the deepening evening. A long-time student commented he
didn't care much for shrimp. No surprise; he had led a sheltered life
and some people don't like shrimp.
When the She Crab Soup was ready, my cousin went around gathering up
the shells. The student looked up in surprise and said, "Shells?
What shells?"
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T O D A Y ' S R E C I P E
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Every year millions of Mexicans visit the graves of their relatives on
November 2, All Souls' Day, as a gesture of love and respect for the
departed. This bread, whose name means "Bread of the Dead," is a
traditional part of this fiesta.
Pan de Muerto
1 envelope (1 Tbs, 15 ml) active dry yeast
1/2 cup (125 ml) lukewarm water
3+1/2 cups (875 ml) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
1/2 cup (125 ml) sugar
1 cup (250 ml) butter, melted
6 eggs, lightly beaten
Grated rind of 1 orange
1 Tbs (15 ml) orange blossom water
Frosting (see below)
Pink sugar crystals for garnish
1. Mix the yeast and the water. Add enough flour to make a light
dough. Shape into a ball and allow to rise in a warm place until
doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
2. Sift the remaining flour with the salt and sugar. Mix in the
remaining ingredients and knead until smooth. Add the flour mixture
from step 1 and knead until smooth. Cover with a damp cloth and allow
to rise until doubled in volume, 1 to 2 hours. Shape into two round
loaves, setting aside a small ball of dough for making decorations.
Place the loaves on a greased baking sheet. Decorate the tops with
crosses made from pieces of dough, alternating in shape between tear
drops and bones. Roll two small pieces of dough into small balls and
place in the center of each loaf. Cover the loaves and allow to
double in volume, about 1 hour. Bake in a preheated 375F (190C) oven
for about 30 minutes, until golden brown. Frost and sprinkle with
pink sugar. Makes 2 loaves.
Frosting
Add enough confectioner's sugar to 1/4 cup boiling water to make a
frosting of the right consistency for spreading.
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