Ingredients

1/2 cup butter                               1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water                                5 - 5 1/2 cups flour
2 packages of dry yeast                 1 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon whol anise seed        1/2 cup whitre sugar
4 eggs
 

Instructions

• In a saucepan over medium flame, heat the butter, milk and water until very warm but not boiling.

• Meanwhile, measure out 1-1/2 cups flour and set the rest aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and sugar. Beat in the warm liquid until well combined. Add the eggs and beat in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding more flour until dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on lightly floured board for ten minutes until smooth and elastic.

• Lightly grease a bowl and place dough in it, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours. Punch the dough down and shape into loaves resembling skulls, skeletons or round loaves with "bones" placed ornamentally around the top. Let these loaves rise for 1 hour.

• Bake in a preheated 350 F degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and paint on glaze.

Glaze
1/2 cup sugar        1/3 cup fresh orange juice       2 tablespoons grated orange zest
 
Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then apply to bread with a pastry brush.
If desired, sprinkle on colored sugar while glaze is still damp.
 
 
 

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