manuela

[nene]

i want to say first how much i loved mini chef's photos of tiny people on food -- brilliant. also, consulting 'Winter in the Alps' i see that really it is time to bake christmas biscuits. i know its not winter but there is something about the heavenly cinnamon smell in the house. . .

[Manuela]

Hi every one
Today is St Nikolas day. In Switzerland it is tradition to bake "Grittibaenze", a yeast based bread that you shape into men, women or santas. You decorate them with rainins and sugar, then paint them with egg and bake them in the oven untill golden brown.They look absolutly fantastic and the whole family can get involved and do their own creation.
Preheat the oven to 200 C
For 4 "Grittibaenze" you will need
500 gr unbleached plane flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
60 g unsalted butter at room temperature
20 g dry yeast
300 ml warm full cream milk
2 tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon cinamon
Mix all the ingredients together and kneed them untill the dough will become shiny and elasic ( about 10 minutes)
Shape the dough into a ball and cover it with a tea towel.Let it rest for about 1 hour.
Punch the dough down and shape it into your santas ec.Decorate them, paint some egg yolk over and bake them in the preheated oven for about 15 to 20 minutes.

[brit]

Thank you Manuela for your yummy Christmas pudding recipe. The pudding will be enjoyed very much by my family and friends.