PANE DI PASQUA

Pane di Pasqua in English means Bread of Easter or Easter bread.  Nonnina has had this recipe for years, her mother used to make it for the family when they were back home in Italy around Easter time.  Her mom used to make this bread with whatever they had but when they came to Canada - the recipe below was and continues to be a staple at every Easter lunch.  Passed down from generations, this delicious savoury treat is a favourite in our family!  Meat and cheese lovers alike - Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of Mild Dried Sausage cubed
  • 2 cups of Easter Cheese - cubed
  • 1/2 cup of Easter Cheese - grated
  • 1 cup of warm water
  • 1 TBSP of yeast
  • 1/2 TSP of sugar
  • 6 cups of flour
  • 8 eggs
  • 1 cup of sunflower oil 
  • 1/4 cup of table cream
  • 1 TSP of salt

Instructions

  1. Mix together warm water , sugar and yeast and set aside
  2. Grease a large bowl with a little bit of sunflower oil and dust with flower - set it aside you will need this for the dough, later
  3. Chop the dried sausage and the Easter cheese into cubes
  4. In a mixing bowl, add eggs, oil and cream and beat just until the yolks have broken and all is combined 
  5. Slowly add the flour, salt, Easter cheese and dried sausage to the mixer and combine until a dough forms.  Nonnina's Tip: The best way to combine the dough is to mix it by hand on a flat floured surface.
  6. Once the dough is formed, place the dough in the large bowl that you prepared earlier, pushing the centre of the dough down and cover it with a cloth - set aside and let it rise for 4 hours
  7. At this point your dough should have risen - pre heat the oven to 350 ℉ - remove the dough from the bowl and knead it a little bit on a flour dusted surface
  8. Separate the dough into 3 or 4 small logs (like a french baguette) and place them side by side on a cookie sheet with parchment paper
  9. Using the egg yolk and the water, create an egg wash and with a kitchen brush, lightly brush it onto each loaf for a golden, crunchy finish
  10. Place the cookie sheet in the oven on the middle rack and let bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown depending on your oven