Slovak Paska Bread N Paska Peeps ( For Baking Eggless )

Our november month's challenge  for    Baking Eggless   group started by gayathri was this beautiful East European Easter Bread with cute little peeps.

 I first had many inhibitions as to whether I will be able to make justice to this traditional bread or no , or what if the expreriment is a total failure ? But I finally mustered enough courage and then one more disaster struck. My oven started giving problems. It took almost 3 weeks to get it repaired. I was now depressed because I was going to miss out on this wonderful opportunity to try something totally different.

And then finally when I came to know that Gayathri had decided to keep the link open for 10 more days of December  I just went ahead and made the bread. And I am glad that I gave it a try .

 Gayathri this was a real adventure and tremendously enjoyed making and baking the bread and peeps.

Recipe Source: Eastern European Food


Ingredients :

3 to 4 cups .....................maida
2 /3 cup.....................milk
4 tbsp.......................sugar
1 tsp .......................sugar
1/2 cup.....................homemade butter ( loni)
2 tsp.......................dry active yeast
1/3 cup...................lukewarm water
1/3 cup..................sour curds
1/4 tsp.................baking soda
a pinch.................salt

Method :

In a pan heat together milk, salt, sugar and butter till the butter melts and sugar is dissolved.

Also mix warm water , 1 tsp sugar and yeast separately and keep it to rise for 10 minutes.

Now to the yeast mixture add curds, milk mixture and half the maida.

Mix well , I did it with a blender.

Now go on adding remaining maida little at  a time and mix straight with your hands.

Knead the dough for at least 5 to 8 minutes till it is soft, elastic and non sticky.

Can add more maida if the dough is very sticky.

Now keep it in a big greased bowl and plastic wrap it .

Keep it aside for 2 hours to double in size and rise.

Now make three parts of the dough.

Keep the third portion for decorated braids and peeps.

Mix the other two parts and press the dough in a greased pan lined with butter paper.

Cover the pan with wet cloth and let the dough rise for 1 more hour.

Now the decoration part.

Divide the 1/3 part of dough again in 3 parts.

Take the 1st part and make 4 small balls.

Elongate each ball into a long rope and make a knot.

Put two cloves as eyes at the end of short knot to make the face .

Press the longer part with fork , to  make the tail of the peeps.

No need to prove the peeps , just brush them with milk .

And bake them in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.

Brush them with butter after baking for a shiny surface.

Take the 2nd part and divide it further into two parts to make long rolls.

Twist the rolls and make a braid to circle it round the top of the bread.

Now take the 3 rd part and make snails or a decorative flower for the middle portion of the bread.

Brush the bread with milk and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

Once done remove from the oven and cool it completely.