Russian Cheese Pashka

I know Jennifer posted a Pashka recipe already, but I wanted to add what we made this year. It was a very simple, traditional Russian recipe that I altered to suit our tastes. I used melted chocolate to add the decorations. An Orthodox Pashka is usually decorated with a Russian cross and the letters XB which represent the first letters of the Pascal greeting "Христос воскрес!" (Christos Voskres!) On our Pashka, I used the letters C & R to represent "Christus Resurrexit" and a Latin cross but I also included the usual symbols around the sides and even an XA for the Greek "Χριστός ἀνέστη!" ( Khristós Anésti!)

Russian Pascha

2 boxes cream cheese, softened

8 oz. small curd cottage cheese

7 oz. plain greek yogurt (the original calls for sour cream)

1/4 C. unsalted butter, melted

7 oz. sugar (a little less than 1 C.)

1/4 tsp. almond extract (the original calls for lemon)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 oz. blanched almonds, finely chopped (opt., I opted not)

2.5 oz. currants (opt., I opted not)

cheese mold

cheesecloth

If you don't have a cheese mold, you can use two layers of cheesecloth inside of an empty 35.3 oz. yogurt carton. First, poke a lot of little holes in the bottom of the tub. I used a metal shish kabob skewer. I think I poked it about 20 times each from the inside and the outside.

In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream/yogurt and butter. Fold in sugar, extracts, almonds and currants. Scoop your cheese into your prepared mold. I recommend folding paper towels or kitchen towels and setting your tub of cheese on top of those to help soak up the extra liquid. Refrigerate overnight. You might want to change the towels out once or twice before unmolding. 

When you are ready to serve, place the upside down tub on a plate and remove tub. Carefully pull the cheesecloth off. Decorate if you want to.

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Know From Emotions, Really Love From Notice through Gian Kumar ISBN

Understanding As Well As A Obvious..

Through saturday day, while you wolf morning meal, shed the children in school and also battle some of the visitors operate, maybe you have idea, "If only i possibly could be at liberty!" or more, "If only i possibly could produce times of comfort!" In this case, this is actually the reserve for every person. You may be thinking the solution take a look at like, "consider everything such as and do not such as, create listings, after that exercise methods of enlarge avoiding consumers correspondingly. Very another, Gian shows that the very first thought you are doing is actually DON'T EVEN THINK. Rather must quietly discover, observing the feelings and thoughts, and also the community about you. Ultimately, Gian states, we are going to get intuitions from your unaware that will help aim you within the movement must truly choose. Gian refers to this as entire process "understanding", however, many may have heard information technology because religionist term "heedfulness" (archangel Carrithers. The buddha: a rather brief intro: Oxford hit, c1996, mo. 50-52). As indicated by Gian the problem along with convinced is the fact that the values use and also we all reside in a quickly increasing people being. Additionally the and also are translated through you when it comes to exactly what the mom and dad, educators, spiritual management, governmental management, and others. trained you. They ideologies tend to be them version of these human beings pasts. Gian is simply not just recommending there is a problem along with convinced, nevertheless tip is the fact that you try to be really up to date prior to we feel.

This particular reserve might be named modern age, however it is more precisely referred to as east approach. Gian exhibits a fascinating mix of religionist and also religionist idea. Some of the religionist idea mostly originates from Some of the Bhagwat Bhagavad-Gita (Ch. 13). Gleam sprinkle in Religious and also Muslim tips. Gian is an accomplished free-thinker, self-taught, and also, even as we produce suggested, among their prime tips will be hinder staying caught in every definitely one base even as we rather quickly restrict the look at what exactly is "nowadays."

One coin of reserve handles a short a review of (one) the healthiness of guy, and also, (two), the answer in understanding. Another coin focuses on the mostly religionist look at understanding (Ch. four), choicelessness (Ch. 10) understanding (Ch. six), and also dichotomy and also non-duality (Ch. 7). The last and also next school term focus on religionist tips of downright (Ch. eight), manufacturing and also devastation (Ch. nine), improvisation and also the nowadays (Ch. ten), susceptibility instead of emotionalism (Ch. eleven) understanding as part of useful residing (Ch. twelve), logicality (Ch. thirteen), and also no (Ch. 14). The world breeze introduction to program can simply touch during the detail of reserve that performances a great deal learn.

Your reader who is competent inside area of real information can find Know from cardio, really love from notice a tiny bit frequent; unfortunately, this particular exact same top quality definitely will really assist individuals fresh to the minds. Advertise in fact have various very difficult principles that should be considered and conducted. As part of part two "awareness," that exposes "downright reality," is actually referred to as staying either "immutable" and also "continued moving": definitely one specific description connote one thing fixed, and also the some other one thing increasing. In the event that audience maintains supposed, unfortunately, every one of the are revealed later on ever invented. The thought of "choicelessness" (Ch. 10) is actually more of a mysterious, particularly when confronted with the issue in bad in other people. Exactly what must you choose? Again read on and also maintain convinced.

If you are especially considering approach generally, a few will understand as part of Gian's operate the sameness aided by the Existentialist's look at 'regular' being since unmerited, broker, worthless, and also nauseous (example. Sartre. Sickness: Sphenisciform Seabird, 1965). A lot more especially you will find a mentioned sameness aided by the philosophical doctrine Jaspers' look at downright world since tremendously complicated, past every one of the techniques of real information, but none of them some of the reduced somehow cognizable throughout mysterious encounter (approach In life: Pennsylvania hit, c1971 & cause And also Existenz: noon hit, c1955). Additionally Gian's look at creativeness welling increase from unaware is really like some of the philosophical doctrine consultant Rolf Can (Some of the daring to develop: diminutive courses, c1975).

This particular reserve is perfect for every one of the 'hunters' after newbies to your practiced: every needs from this one thing at just their particular amount. When occasionally handling significant concerns advertise is very brief, even though it should probably try to be review some vacations so to process the difficulties. Overall Know from cardio, really love from thoughts are a pleasurable and also beneficial study.

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Basic Paska for Easter

After reading a Ukrainian folktale to my girls this morning, we got busy baking our Hot Cross Buns for Good Friday, Easter Doves, and Paska!  Jennifer recently posted her beautiful Paska recipe, but since I didn't have all the ingredients necessary, and I wasn't going to be able to make it back to the grocery store, I decided to adapt "Mary Urim's Paska" recipe from Romancing the Stove incorporating some of the decorating tips from Ukrainian Classic Kitchen.  I just love how pretty the Paska turned out, and it smells heavenly!

Basic Paska

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 2 cups of milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 4 eggs, beaten and separated
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 9 1/2 – 10 1/2 cups flour

Directions:

In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, scald the milk. Add the sugar, stirring with a whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, and let cool.

In another bowl, mix 3 eggs (saving one for the egg wash), butter, oil, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, and milk mixture, and whisk to combine.

Add 9 1/2 cups of flour to a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Gradually add the egg/milk/yeast mixture while mixing. Mix the dough for 10 minutes. Adding up to 1 to 1 1/2 cups of additional flour. The dough should pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl and not stick. If it is sticking, gradually add more flour. (Note: My stand mixer was not quite large enough for this recipe so I ended up kneading the dough by hand. If needing by hand, knead well, letting the dough rest a couple times between kneading to let the gluten work. Continue kneading until the dough no longer sticks to hands.)

Place the dough in a large bowl coated with oil, turning to cover all sides of the dough with oil. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1-2 hours).

After the dough has risen, take it out of the bowl, punch it down a little, and shape into loaves, reserving a little dough to create decorations. Place loaves into well oiled round baking dishes, filling only 1/3 full. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until once again doubled in bulk (about 30-45 minutes).

Note:  I had to be creative finding deep round baking dishes!  I ended up using an Oven-proof Batter Bowl, a white casserole we were given for our wedding, my new Round Covered Baker, and an old Pampered Chef Bread Crock! 

Meanwhile create decorations for the top of the paska.

Note: Adding decorations after the shaped Paska has risen prevents the decorations from rising unevenly.

To make a braided cross: Using 3 small pieces of dough, roll each piece into a rope, then braid the 3 pieces together. Repeat to make a second braid. Place one of the braids over the dough ball in the pan, tucking the sides under the ball. Place the second braid over the first in the form of a cross, again tucking the ends under the dough ball.

 

Additional decoration suggestions/designs can be found in Jen's post.

 

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Make egg wash - beat 1 egg and 2 tablespoons of water. Brush the tops of the loaves with egg wash. Bake for 45 minutes or until the bread is golden.

 Let cool in the pan.

Remove from pan, place on wire rack and cool completely.

NOTE:  This recipe will create 2-3 Paska, depending on pan size.  I used the leftover dough from our Easter Doves to create a 4th small Paska.  

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Easter Doves (Paska Dinner Rolls)

This morning I asked my girls to choose a book for us to read from our Lent and Easter Book Basket and they picked The Birds' Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story.  This sweet book, unfortunately out of print at the moment, is a folktale describing the origin of pysanky.   After reading the story we were talking about other Ukrainian Easter traditions and decided to add Paska to our Easter menu this year.   We also learned that in earlier times in Ukraine "birds made from dough were baked representing the larks, who were migrating back to the north.   Today, these bread “doves” are seen made for Easter. "

I posted the recipe we used below, but you could also save some dough from your favorite paska recipe, or even make Dinner Roll Doves out of Rhodes Rolls!  Ours didn't turn out as well as I would have liked - you have to look at them just the right way to see that they are actually birds - but the children are looking forward to enjoying them with our Easter dinner!

 

Easter Doves (Paska Dinner Rolls)

Adapted from Ukrainian Classic Kitchen 

Ingredients: 

• 1 package dry yeast (1 tablespoon)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3/4 cup lukewarm water
• 3 eggs
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 cup milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 cups flour

Directions: 

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and honey in lukewarm water. Let stand 10 minutes till yeast begins to work.

Beat eggs until foamy. Add the honey, oil, milk, and salt, and beat until well mixed. Add 2 cups of the flour and blend in well. Knead in by hand the 3 additional cups of flour or enough to make a workable dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. (I used my stand mixer with the dough hook.)  Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk.

Shape doves; place on greased cookie sheet and let rest 10 to 15 minutes. (The doves will keep their shape best if they are not allowed to rise too long. They will rise some in the oven.) Just before baking, insert cloves or raisins (push in deeply to avoid burning or popping out) for eyes. Brush with an egg yolk wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired. Bake at 350˚ F for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

HOW TO SHAPE DOVES

Doves may be shaped in two ways:

1. Roll out the dough into snakes about the thickness of a finger; cut into 4 inch sections. Place one strip horizontally on your work surface; lay another strip on top like a cross. Pull the arms of the strip beneath up and cross to the opposite side) left side becomes right, right side becomes left); flatten and shape slightly as for wings. Shape one end of the straight strip of dough like a head (pinch for a beak); flatten the other end and make three or four slits for tail feathers.

 

 

2.  Roll out the dough into snakes about the thickness of a finger. Cut in strips 5-6 inches long, tie each in a knot. Shape one end like a head (pinch to form beak); flatten other end to make three or four slits to form tail feathers, spreading them apart a bit.

NOTE:  I only used some of the dough to bake a couple batches of the Easter Doves.  I used the remaining dough to make an extra loaf of Paska! 

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GF Lenten Tea Menu

The following post was submitted by Summer from Home.  Thank you Summer! 

When we discovered that our seventh baby had gluten sensitivites, one of my first thoughts was, "What about our liturgical feasts?" I know, a little crazy, but my family loves to celebrate with a special saint day treat here and there. So, when Lent rolled around this year, I was determined to adapt Jessica's Lenten Teas for Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Here are our plans:

Holy Thursday
Palm on the Road- read Little Colt's Palm Sunday book, always gf!
Costly Oil- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
30 Pieces of Silver- banana pennies for a little extra fruit
Unleavened Bread- thick gf flour tortillas
(We are going to use this recipe from Spark Recipes. We haven't tried it yet, but it has excellent reviews.)

The Mount of Olives- black olives
The Cock Crows Twice- chicken pot pie
An excellent pie crust recipe from King Arthur Flour
My favorite chicken pot pie recipe, yum!: Allrecipes (just be sure to substitute sweet rice flour for wheat flour)

Gethsemane Figs- fig butter to spread on the tortillas
Sleepy Apostles- Celestial Seasoning Sleepytime Tea
Judas' Kiss- fresh strawberries
Clouds of Heaven- home whipped cream
Peter's Tears- sunflower seeds

Good Friday
Water Bowl- water, easy!
The King's Crown- refried beans with cheese sprinkled on top and organic tortilla chips
Out of Envy- guacamole
The Purple Cloak- boysenberry fruit leathers (the TJ's version has no added sugar)
The Crown of Thorns- Glutino crackers with cream cheese and tortilla chip thorn bits
Golgotha Eggs- boiled eggs
The Seamless Garment- rice flour or corn tortillas with cheese cubes
The Two Robbers- spinach leaves
Vinegar to Drink- balsamic vinegar
The Temple Curtain- tear a napkin
The Roman Centurion- red grapes (my children do not like fresh tomatoes)
Laid in a Tomb- drop biscuits with jelly in the middle
(We love biscuits and have them every Saturday morning for our big breakfast with daddy. However, a tasty gf recipe is tough to find. Trust me, I have made a lot of hockey pucks! This recipe from Hodgson Mill is the best by far.)

GF Drop Biscuits Recipe
Preheat oven to 375
Grease standard 12 muffin pan

3 cups all purpose GF baking flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. xantham gum
1 tsp. baking soda
Blend above ingredients well

1/2 cup cold butter
Use a pastry blender or two forks to blend into a coarse meal with dry ingredients
(I always cheat and use my butter warm)

1 1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. cider vinegar
1 lg egg, beaten
In a large measuring cup, mix wet ingredients together. Pour into dry ingredients. Batter will be moist and very thick. Evenly spoon batter into muffin tin. Lightly flatten the tops of biscuits using fingers dipped in milk.

Bake for 22 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cool.

Holy Saturday...
Will be spent baking our traditional Lamb Cake, just with GF Betty Crocker helping out.

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Passion Pita Pizzas

The following post was submitted by Lori from Busy with Blessings, sharing the "Passion Pita Pizzas" she created with her children last year on Good Friday. Thank you Lori!

First we took a pita and discussed how the stripes remind us of Our Lord's scourged body and that by His stripes we are healed. We are also thankful that He gives His body to us in the Holy Eucharist to strengthen us along our journey.

We brushed the pita bread with olive oil for He was arrested in the Garden of Olives. (I bake these at 425 for about 5-8 min to get them crispy.)

Next we spread the pizza sauce to represent the blood He shed for us and for all so that sins may be forgiven.

The white cheese and mushrooms were added to represent purity from sin.

We added green bellpepper in the shape of a cross to represent life.

Black Olives were added for His 5 Wounds.

Onions were added last to represent tears shed.

I sprinkled a little more cheese on the top and baked them for about 10 min., keeping an eye on them so they didn't burn.  They are very symbolic and yummy!

Lord by Your Cross and Resurrection You have set us free, You are The Savior of the World!

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Holy Thursday Gumbo Z'herbes (Green Gumbo)

The following recipe for Holy Thursday was submitted by Frank Speyerer. Thank you Frank!

Gumbo z'herbes is the least common of the three traditional gumbos we eat in New Orleans, and it's nothing like the other two. For one thing, it doesn't usually contain a roux. In its most rigorously constituted form, there should be no meat or seafood in gumbo z'herbes. This is penitential gumbo for Lenten eating. However I add bacon and a ham hock for seasoning.

The name is a contraction of gumbo aux herbs--gumbo with greens. The more different greens it contains, the better the gumbo z'herbes. The tradition says that you must have an odd number of greens in there or risk bad luck. Whatever number of different greens you use will be the number of new friends you'll make before next Easter.

Besides the usual mustard, collard greens and turnip greens, some of the additional greens may include spinach, 
green onions, parsley, watercress, 
beet tops, 
carrot tops, radish tops, peppergrass,
 dandelion greens
, green leaf lettuce (not iceberg) or cabbage. 


More gumbo z'herbes is served during Holy Week than all the rest of the year combined. It was a family tradition that my Mère (grand-mother), Louise Egan (1883-1955) cooked gumbo z'herbes (without meat) on either Holy Thursday or Good Friday.

Gumbo Z'herbes (Green Gumbo)

Ingredients:

• 8 strips bacon cut into one inch pieces

• 2 medium onions finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 bunch mustard greens 

• 1 bunch collard greens
• 1 bunch turnip greens 

• 2 small turnips, peeled and cubed

• 2 cups dry white wine

• water to cover
• 1 ham hock

• 2 teaspoons Frank’s Creole Seasoning (see below for recipe) or salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Method:

1. Wash the greens and drain well.
2. Cut out the stems center ribs from the greens.
3. Tear the greens into small pieces.
4. In a black cast iron pot, sauté the bacon over medium heat until it is translucent and the bottom of the pot is coated with the rendered bacon fat.
5. Sauté the onions and garlic until soft.
6. Add the greens and the cubed turnip.
7. Add the water and wine to cover.
8. Add the ham hock and seasonings and bring pot to a boil over medium heat.
9. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook until the greens are tender, about 2 hours.
10. Serve greens hot with their cooking liquid or "pot likker”.

Serves: 15

Franks Famous Creole Seasoning

This type of seasoning base is used in many New Orleans restaurants, from Emeril's to Commander's Palace to K-Paul's. This is particularly good on grilled chicken or duck.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1½ teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon granulated onion
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon crushed dried basil leaves
• ½ teaspoon crushed dried oregano leaves
• ½ teaspoon crushed dried thyme leaves
• ½ teaspoon crushed dried parsley leaves
• ¼ teaspoon ground bay leaves

Note: This version of Creole seasoning contains salt -- If you like to control salt content separately, omit the salt from the blend.

Method:

1. In a medium bowl or food processor combine salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, white pepper, ground black pepper, granulated onion, granulated garlic, crushed basil, crushed oregano, crushed thyme and parsley. Mix thoroughly.
2. Use like salt. When it's salty enough, it's seasoned to perfection.
3. Store in an airtight container for up to three months.

Note: The amounts in this recipe are given by volume. So a "teaspoon" can be a cup or a Tablespoon depending on how much seasoning you wish to make. Double or triple the recipe as you wish.

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Pascha: Easter Sweet Cheese Spread, Updated

In 2009 I posted about Festive Easter Breads and Cheese. My cookbooks are full of margin notes, so I thought I would update my notes on the recipes. This is crossposted with my food blog, Family Food in Feast and Feria.

We enjoy spreading Pascha, the Easter Sweet Cheese Mold on the Paska, just like in one of our favorite children's books, Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco. At first I was a bit confused, as the name for the dessert cheese is Pascha (or Pashka), very close to the Ukrainian name for the bread. And “Pascha” is the Orthodox name for Easter. Once I got the names sorted out, I was convinced I had to try the cheese. I didn’t have an “official” mold, so used the clean clay unglazed flowerpot. Be sure to make ahead (the recipe says 2-3 days. Wednesday or Holy Thursday is probably the latest). I omit the candied fruit and the almonds, as I want a smoother, creamier texture. My husband always requests this so I have been working on improving this every year.

The recipe I use is from A Continual Feast: A Cookbook to Celebrate the Joys of Family and Faith Throughout the Christian Year by Evelyn Vitz. I’ve had the pleasure to meet her and some of her daughters (and even go on retreat with her and her daughter in law this month!). But I digress…

This is an absolutely beautiful and delicious dish; versions are prepared in Poland, Russia, the Ukraine, and Latvia. It is made in a tall mold (or flower pot), then turned out onto a large platter and decorated. Cool and rich, it tastes like a cross between ice cream and cheesecake. It goes wonderfully with other the sweet Easter breads, such as Kulich, or Paska Or Easter Sweet Bread or with various Easter cakes.

There was some discussion of the "farmer cheese" from the previous post. This is a more difficult ingredient to find. My grocery store carries this, the brand is "Friendship", but you can try ethnic grocery stores. Some people have had success with Mexican queso fresco. It is NOT an aged hard cheese, but a soft and crumbly, almost like ricotta, or a softer version of feta. It is usually found near the yogurt, cottage cheese and/or sour cream, but not in the cheese section. 

If you cannot find farmer's cheese and need to use large curd cottage cheese or ricotta, rinse the cheese with cold water and drain well in a fine colander. Ricotta might need to just be drained. Then take a fine mesh strainer and press the cheese through to make it finely sieved and ready to mix. 

I’ve had trouble over the years having the mixture drain well so it becomes firm. Last year was my most successful year. The flowerpot that works well for me is an 8″ clay flowerpot. But I have found the shorter and wide flowerpot drained better than the tall pot. The picture below shows the two 8″ pots, but the one on the left is the one I use for both the bread Paska and the cheese spread. These are just clay pots made in Italy that I found in my local gardening store. I cleaned well before using.

After covering with cheesecloth, I place a small plate on top, then used a weight (literally, one or two of my husband’s free weights) and then put the pot in a large bowl. Last year the bowl was shaped that the pot was suspended above a few inches, instead of flat on the bottom. This allows more draining.
For decorating I just keep it simple. And face it — no matter how beautiful the presentation, after one small serving it never looks "pretty" again. But that doesn't matter, because it is super delicious and everyone will keep coming back for more.

Pascha
1 whole egg
4 egg yolks
2 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup heavy cream
2 pounds farmer cheese (see comments)
1/2 pound sweet butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fruit: raisins and/ or dried currants, mixed candied fruit peel (I omit)
1 cup blanched almonds, chopped (I omit)
2 tablespoons freshly grated orange or lemon rind (I use both, enough zest from one orange and 1 lemon)
For decorating:
Candied fruit peel, maraschino cherries, or nuts
Fresh strawberries to place around the base and on top

Beat the egg and the yolks until thick and lemon-colored. (NOTE: Using a stand mixer, this is about 5 minutes.) Gradually add the sugar, and beat until the mixture is thick and creamy. Pour into a saucepan and add 1/2 cup of the cream. Heat over medium-low heat, beating constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken. Do not boil. Remove the pan from the heat and continue beating until the mixture has cooled to lukewarm.

(NOTE: I use a wire whisk to beat while heating. I have a gas stove, and using fresh cream from the farmer the mixture is already very thick. On the heat this takes about 10-15 minutes. You will know it's getting thicker when you see the sugar dissolving. At the beginning it's very grainy. After removing from the heat I either put back in the stand mixer and just beat until cooled to lukewarm, or keep in saucepan and stir with the whisk. I don't do it constantly, but very regularly, while I'm beating the other ingredients.)
In a mixing bowl, combine the cheese, butter, the other 1/2 cup of cream and the vanilla. Cream until the mixture is smooth. Add the egg mixture, then the fruits, almonds, and orange or lemon rind. Blend thoroughly. (NOTE: At this point the mixture is very soupy.)

Line a flower pot or Pascha mold with 2 thicknesses of cheesecloth. Place the pot over a bowl (to catch liquid), and pour the Pascha mixture into the pot. Put a layer or two of cheesecloth over the top, set a plate on it and something heavy on the plate. (The purpose is to press the extra liquid out of the Pascha and into the bowl below.) (NOTE: After pouring into the mold, I put a plate and then weight it down. I gradually add more weights, my husband's free weights, after the mixture has chilled longer. Try to place a plate that covers the whole top. There will be oozing over. Do not panic.) Chill overnight or for a day or two.

Remove the top cheesecloth. Unmold the Pascha onto a large platter, and remove the rest of the cheesecloth.

Decorate the Pascha with the candied fruit peel or maraschino cherries or nuts to form the letters XB or CR (Christ is risen) on one side, and on the other side a cross. You may use the Western cross form or the Orthodox cross, or any other cross design that you prefer. In Russia, Pascha is often decorated with an angel and a lily, as well as the cross.
Around the base and on top of the Pascha, place fresh strawberries. Serve chilled.
Yield: 14 to 16 servings

The best part after making these goodies, was arranging the Easter basket for a blessing at our parish by the pastor. I included our Easter eggs, pysanky, ham, wine, butter lamb, paska and pashka. This year I bought a simple Easter basket cloth made by some Catholic ladies in Johnstown, PA, which I can't wait to use.
A blessing on the Paschal feast, and your celebration!

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Paska: Ukrainian Easter Bread, Updated

In 2009 I posted about Festive Easter Breads and Cheese. My cookbooks are full of margin notes regarding these recipes, so I thought I would update and share my notes. Crossposted with my food blog, Family Food in Feast and Feria.

For the Ukrainian Easter Bread, Paska, I now adapt a recipe from Celebration Breads: Recipes, Tales, and Traditions by Betsy Oppenneer. I highly recommend this cookbook– it is very detailed instructions and diagrams.

I find one of the most difficult aspects of baking ethnic recipes is finding the right tools. This is an example — “Paska molds are somewhere between the height of a souffle dish and a 3-pound coffee can.” So this recipe uses either two 3-pound coffee cans or two 8-inch souffle dishes. I have neither on hand, and always forget this until it’s too late. So I’ve made due either with a Pyrex or Corning Ware casserole dish that is 8 inches across, or a wider mouthed (clean) flower pot that is also 8 inches across. (More on the flowerpot in my Pascha update post.)

The details on the recipes are two pages long, but basically you can compare the previous recipe for Paska.

Here’s my adapted ingredient list:

Paska, Ukrainian Easter Bread

Ingredients
For the Dough:
1 scant Tablespoon or 1 (1/4 ounce) package of active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (about 110 degrees F)
1/2 cup warm milk (about 100 degrees F)
8 large egg yolks, beaten
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2-3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon orange peel, zested
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon brandy or rum
4 to 5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 to 1 cup golden raisins (soaked in brandy or rum)

For the Molds:
Butter
1 cup dried bread crumbs (I use flour)

For the Topping:
1 large egg
1 Tablespoon cold water

Using a mixer: Sprinkle the yeast in the water to soften in the mixer bowl. Add the milk, yolks, butter, sugar, zest, vanilla, salt, brandy and 2 cups of the flour. Beat on medium-low for 2 minutes, adding the flour 1/4 cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides. Change to the dough hook and and continue kneading on medium low, adding a tablespoon at a time.

Put the dough in an oiled bowl and coat the ball of dough with oil. Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (This is one of my frustrations with my kitchen. This always takes longer for me, almost double the amount of time. I’m hoping my “proof” setting in my new oven will change this.)

Meanwhile, heavily grease the pans, and if desired sprinkle the sides and bottoms with bread crumbs. (If skipping the bread crumbs, do flour the pan.)

On an oiled surface, turn out the dough and set aside about one-fourth (1/4) of the dough and cover it. Divide the remaining dough and shape each piece into a smooth ball. Place the dough in the prepared molds. Divide the remaining piece of dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each one into a short dough equal to the diameter of the molds. Snip the ends of each rope about 1 inch. Lay 2 ropes at right angles to each other (the shape of a cross) on each loaf and curl the ends outward.

The decorations on top of the loaf are very individual, and can be ornate. These hints from Ukrainian Easter by Mary Ann Woloch Vaughn are extremely helpful. One year I made a simple cross and made an Alpha and Omega on either side of the cross, reminiscent of the Paschal Candle decorations. (Graphics from Ukrainian Classic Kitchen: )

Cover allow a second rise for about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. with 10 minutes remaining. Right before baking beat the egg with the cold water and brush over the top of each loaf.

Bake for 25 minutes until the internal temperate of the bread is 190 degrees F. Remove the bread from the pans  immediately let cool on a rack.

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