My Son ... The Junior Masterchef

John baked a Spanish Bread called
Pan de Muerto (Bread for the Dead)
as a project for his Spanish Class


Pan de Muerto is a type of bread traditionally baked in Mexico
during the week leading up to the "Day of the Dead"
which is celebrated on November 1 and 2.


It is a sweetened soft bread often decorated with
bone like pieces.


Okay so let us join my son, John on his cooking adventure.


INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

The whole cooking process took almost 3 hours !!!

Here is the recipe for Pan de Muerto :

(from John's Spanish teacher)

You Need:

• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter, cut into chunks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup very warm water
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups all purpose flour, unsifted
• 1/2 tsp anise seed (optional)
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp sugar

This recipe makes 8-10 servings

1.  Bring milk to boil  and remove from heat.

      Stir in butter, 1/4 cup sugar and salt.

2.  In a large bowl, mix yeast with warm water until dissolved

     and let stand 5 minutes.  Add the milk mixture.

3.  Separate the yolk and whites of one egg.  And the yolk

      to the yeast mixture, but save the white later.

      Now add the flour to the yeast and egg.

      Blend well until dough ball is formed.

4.  Flour a pastry board or work surface very well and place

     the dough in center.  Knead until smooth.  Return to large

     bowl and cover with dish towel.  Let rise in warm place for

     90 minutes.  Grease a baking sheet and preheat the oven

     to 350 degrees.

5.  Knead dough again on your floured surface.  Now divide the

     dough into fourths and set one fourth aside.  Roll the remaining 

     3 pieces into "ropes".

6.  On a greased baking sheet, pinch 3 rope ends together and

      braid.  Finish by pinching ends together on opposite side.

      Divide the remaining dough in half and form 2 "bones".

      Cross and lay them on top the braided loaf.

7.  Cover the bread with dish towel and let rise for 30 minutes.

     Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix anise seed, cinnamon and 2 tsp sugar

     together.  In another bowl, beat egg white lightly.

8.  When 30 minutes are up, brush top of bread with egg white and 

     sprinkle with sugar mixture, except on cross bones.

     Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

     

Friends, thank you for joining us on John's
cooking adventure.