~** ViNtaGe **~
One Of a Kind FiNds!*!*!



Sunday, April 4, 2010

**PeePs** & Pezzuto's Italian Easter Sweet Bread!*!*!

Firstly... Nothing says EaSteR like PEEPS!!!
I have loved these sticky sweet delights as long as I can remember!*!*!


"Yummy"... Just about Every Easter I make this delightful recipe that I acquired from my Italian girlfriend's Mom, MRS. PEZZUTO...  This recipe goes way back to my High School Years when I lived in Illinois!!!  I remember going over to Terry's home & couldn't stop eating this delicious homemade bread of Maryann's...  Years later when I moved to Nevada, an opened up my "Sweet Treats Bake Shop" ~ these personal-sized delightful Sweet Bread Loaves "headlined" the outdoor chalkboard every EaSTer HoLiday...  The bread tends to dry-out quickly ~ but tastes GREAT TOASTED!*!*!  The recipe is quite easy to make even if you've never done a "yeast" bread...   

PEZZUTO'S ITALIAN EASTER SWEET BREAD
1 cup of milk scalded...
2 tablespoon yeast
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
4 eggs (total)
6-7 cups of flour (total)
2 Tablespoons Shortening
Candy sprinkles

•Dissolve 2 tablespoons of yeast in a 1/4 cup of warm water...
  Let rise for about 15 minutes while you're doing other things...
•Beat together 3 Eggs - set aside...


•Scald 1 cup of milk...
•Add a 1/2 cup of the softened butter to the scalded milk - stir...
•ADD:  1 cup of sugar... 1 teaspoon salt...
•ADD:  2 cups of white flour... 
•BEAT ALL OF THE ABOVE TOGETHER: milk,butter,sugar,salt,flour



•Add the Now Foamy Yeast Mixture...
•Add the 3 Beaten Eggs that you had set aside...
•BEAT
•STIR-IN by hand an additional 4 Cups of Flour...



•Form a ball with the dough...
•Fill a one-cup measure with flour... Use some of this for the counter &
   kneading as necessary - will vary - you may not use it all - less is better.   
 •Knead Dough for about 8 minutes...


•Ball Up the now kneaded dough...
•Coat a large bowl with shortening... (do not use oil)
•Place the balled-up dough in the bowl...
•Coat the top of the dough with shortening also...
•Place plastic wrap on the top of the bowl ...


•Cover your bowl with a few kitchen towels in a draft free place...
•Let Rise till doubled or tripled ~ about 1-1/2 hours??? varies...



•Fully Risen... Ready to punch down in the center...



•With a knife, cut off pieces of dough...
•Using your hands only, roll pieces of dough back & forth to form long rounded strips...
•Each small loaf uses 3 strips - approximately 8" long each...
NOTE:  The bread visually looks better if these rounded strips are smoother looking - no seams showing...
•BRAID the 3 pieces together... TUCK the ends under...


•Braided Mini Loaves... 
•Let Rise on baking parchment paper & a cookie baking sheet...



•Cover with LOOSE Plastic Wrap & a Towel while they rise...
•They'll rise quicker this time around...  Maybe 45 minutes - 1 hour???
•Preheat your oven 375 degrees...


Now that they've risen to "baking size" - Prepare Egg Wash...
•Combine 1 Egg with 1 Tablespoon of water using a fork...
Gently brush this egg mixture over each loaf - top & sides...
•Sprinkle decorative candy sprinkles on the top of each loaf...



•Ready for the OVEN!*!*!
•Bake for approximately 15 minutes in your pre-heated 375 degree Oven.
*NOTE... Size varies baking time... They will brown quickly because of the egg wash; that does not mean they are done...  I always "thump" them with my fingers when the time suggests they're ready... - Need to sound hollow when they're done... Don't over bake...  

I hope that perhaps you will try these next Easter or someday soon...
EnJoy!*!*!  Just DeLiCiouS...














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