Smyrniote Vasilopita (New Year's Cake) and Aetoudakia (Little Eagles) - Recipe
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Smyrniote Vasilopita (New Year's Cake) and Aetoudakia (Little Eagles) — continued
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chrysolefou.com
Smyrniote Vasilopita (New Year's Cake) and Aetoudakia (Little Eagles)
Recipe by Xenia Ginousi - Moutsellaki
INGREDIENTS
For 1 Vasilopita (New Year's Cake) and 15-20 Aetoudakia (Little Eagles)
• 1100g flour for Tsoureki (sweet bread)
• 300g Fytini shortening (vegetable fat)
• 100g cow's butter
• 4 eggs, 450g sugar
• 3 vanilla pods (or extract)
• Zest from 3 large oranges
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup lye water (stachtonero)
• Fresh almonds
• 2 egg yolks for brushing
METHOD
1. The night before, boil 2 cups of clean, sifted, settled ash (without disturbing the sediment) with 2 cups of water for 10-15 minutes. Let it cool down and settle. Do not move the pot. The next day, strain the liquid 2-3 times through cotton/cheesecloth and keep 1 large cup of the lye water (stachtonero).
2. In a large bowl (skafi), combine the flour, baking powder, zest, cinnamon, and vanilla, and mix well. In a large pot, mix the eggs, sugar, and lye water and warm them gently—they should not boil, just warm enough that you can comfortably put your hand in. In another pot, melt the butter and let it also come to the same lukewarm temperature.
3. Make the sign of the cross (a traditional start) and gradually add the egg mixture to the bowl, rubbing in the butter with your palms alternately until all the liquid ingredients are incorporated. Knead the dough and let it rest, covered, for 20 minutes.
4. Line your baking pans with parchment paper. Take some dough and spread it out; the thickness of the dough should not exceed 2 fingers high horizontally. Place the lucky coin (flouri) inside. Decorate first with the 'eagle' shape (Aetoudaki) and then with blanched, fresh almonds. Prick the dough with a fork or tongs.
5. Before baking, brush the surface with the egg yolks, doing the same for the Aetoudakia. Preheat the oven, place the cake inside, make the sign of the cross over it, and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 1 hour, depending on your oven.
