Happy Easter!

   I hope everybody is enjoying the Easter Weekend! We are almost ready, just a few more strokes of the duster, a few more eggs to boil, and we are good to go. We are planning to sit back, relax, and enjoy the weekend with friends and family. Polish Easter food is all about eggs, kielbasa, and yeast cake called "Babka" (yes, that means "grandma", but what can I say, we love our grandmas)! It's not the quickest cake to make because it requires a lot of patience to let the dough rise (twice) while the yeast is doing it's job. But don't get discouraged because it's all worth it and the final result is very unique and delicious Oh and it makes your entire house smell like the Holidays too. Here is the recipe:

*  1 package dry yeast
*  1/4 cup warm water
*  1/4 cup warm milk
*  1/2 cup sugar, divided
*  1/4 cup butter (room temp)
*  3 eggs
*  2 1/2 cup flour
*  1/4 teaspoon salt
*  1/2 cup dry raisins and cranberries

   Dissolve the yeast in water; stir in milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Set aside for about 30 minutes, or until bubbly. Using an electric mixer, beat butter with the remaining sugar. Beat in eggs, flour, salt and yeast mixture until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise for about 1-2 hours or until doubled. Stir in raisins and cranberries, put into greased tube pan, cover, and let it rise for about 45 minutes. Bake at 350F for 30 - 40 minutes until well browned. Take it out of the pan immediately and let it cool on a wire rack. When it's cooled, top it with a vanilla glaze (I use a store bought glaze), sprinkle with some cranberries, and it's ready to enjoy.

   The smell of baked yeast is just amazing. It feels like home and even if you never had it when you were growing up, there is something about it that just makes you feel like a small kid in your mom's kitchen. It just makes the Easter a little bit more special, even though I am thousands miles away from home.

Happy Easter.
Magda.