I usually make this bread at Easter. It is sooo good and pretty to look at!

What are some of your favorite Easter recipes?

Italian Easter Bread
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5 uncooked eggs, colored

2 packages dry yeast
3/4 cups shortening
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup warm water
6 cups flour
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. lemon rind, grated

colored sprinkles
food dye to color eggs

Yeast sponge:
Soften yeast in warm water. Blend in 1 1/2 cups of flour and mix well. Cover with wax paper and a towel, set in warm place to rise for 1 1/2-2 hours.

Cream the shortening, sugar and 2 eggs plus 1 egg white until thick.
Add lemon juice and rind.

Blend the egg mixture into the yeast sponge, together with 4 1/2 cups flour to form a soft dough. Add additional flour as needed.

Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down, divide dough in half. Roll each piece into a rope (about 24" long) Twist to form a loose braid and form a ring. Space 5 eggs into the loops of the braided ring.

Cover and let rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2-2 hours.

Bake 350 degrees for 10 minutes; then brush with 1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon milk.

Bake 40-45 minutes or more until bread is golden brown. (eggs will be hard cooked!)

Ice with a simple powdered sugar icing and sprinkle with the candies.

Simnel Cakes
Simnel cakes are called such because of the fine flour (Latin "simila") they were made of. These cakes were baked and sold on Lenten Sundays in both England and France. The French always baked their cakes muffin-size and drew sugar crosses on the top. These were their equivalent of the English Hot Cross Bun.

In England, the simnel cake is especially associated with the 4th Sunday on Lent called Refreshment, Rose, or Mothering Sunday. That day was the older version of our own Mother's Day. Children of all ages were expected to pay a formal visit to their mothers and to bring a simnel cake as a gift. In return, the mothers gave their children a special blessing. This custom was so well-established that masters were required to give servants enough time off to visit out-of-town mothers - provided the trip did not exceed 5 days!

My husband makes a lovely one.. I am pinning him down and will put his recipe in here later
Watch this space...

Ren, I'll be
watching and waiting.

Well he has gone to India, so it may be a while.