Loaf is a traditional wedding baking, which is a symbol of not only family happiness, but also fertility, as well as the transition from a bachelor carefree existence to a life full of obligations. Only experienced women who were happy in marriage baked it. In this case, in no case were childless, divorced, as well as widows allowed. It was believed that their fate could affect the future life of young people. Not everyone knows how to bake a loaf. After all, tradition gradually goes into oblivion. However, the recipes are still preserved.
A bit about traditions
Loaf recipes may vary. However, the baking method and associated ceremonies remain unchanged. The most suitable day for preparing a wedding loaf is Saturday. Everything necessary for baking is brought into the house, where preparations for the celebration will take place.
Cooking a wedding loaf should be accompanied by all the necessary ceremonies. Otherwise, he will not possess the magical power that is attributed to him. Now weddings are held at the end of the week. Therefore, in most cases, wedding loaves are ordered in pastry shops. It is not right. Relatives of the newlyweds should bake the loaf.
It is worth noting that the size of the muffin also matters. There is a sign: the larger the loaf, the happier and stronger the marriage will be. Therefore, if desired, the amount of components that make up the muffin can be increased. In the old days, so large loaves were baked that it was simply impossible to lift them to one person.
How to bake a wedding loaf at home
To bake a loaf for the newlyweds, you must prepare all the products in advance. To make muffin you will need:
- From 7 to 9 glasses of wheat flour.
- 20 g dry yeast.
- 100 g of oil on a vegetable or cream basis.
- ½ cup milk. If necessary, can be replaced with water.
- 10 chicken eggs.
- 2 teaspoons of salt.
- 6 to 8 tablespoons of sugar.
- Spices for flavor. In this case, it is better to use vanilla sugar, lemon zest or cinnamon.
- Fillers for taste - raisins, marmalade, nuts and so on.
Dough preparation
So, how to bake a loaf for the newlyweds? First of all, you need to prepare yourself. Baking muffin in a bad mood is not recommended. After all, a loaf gives rise to a new marriage. Therefore, bake it should only be in a good mood. All recipes for loaves begin with the preparation of the dough. This is the most crucial moment. Since not everyone can bake a loaf at home, it is worth observing the sequence and doing everything carefully.
For starters, it is recommended to slightly warm the milk or water. The fluid should be warm, but not hot. Milk should be poured into a deep container. Dry yeast should be added here and mix everything carefully. Pour sugar into the liquid. One spoonful will be enough. It should be dissolved in milk.
After that, a small amount of wheat flour should be added to the dough. It must be sieved through a sieve. The result should be a dough, like a pancake. Sprinkle the finished dough with flour, and then cover with a towel or napkin. In this form, the mixture should stand for 1-1.5 hours. It will be possible to get the dough when it increases as much as possible. If this is not done in time, then cracks may form.
If desired, you can speed up the process. To do this, a container with a jar should be placed in a dish filled with warm water. It should be noted that with this method it is necessary to regularly change the water. This is necessary to maintain a certain temperature.
Kneading dough
How to bake a loaf for a wedding for the newlyweds? This process requires careful preparation, as well as compliance with all the rules. When the dough is ready, you can begin to knead the dough. How to do it?
First you need to separate the proteins from the yolks. This can be done with an empty plastic bottle. One of the yolks should be left to lubricate the workpiece before baking. What to do with the rest? The remaining yolks should be gently rubbed with sugar. The resulting mass should be introduced into a pair. Wheat flour should be poured into a deep container, separating a small amount to form jewelry. This will require approximately one glass.
In a separate container, beat the whites. Now you need to prepare the vegetable-based oil or melt the cream in a water bath. In flour, it is worth making a small depression, and then pour the yolks with dough and whipped whites into it. Salt and oil should be added to the mass. After this, you need to knead the dough well on the loaf. As a result, the mass should stop sticking to the hands. This process can last 30 minutes. The dough should turn out to be smooth and elastic.
When the mass is ready, it should be transferred to the dishes and placed in a warm place for two hours. After this, the dough should be kneaded and left for some more time. It must rise.
We form baking
So, how to bake a loaf beautiful and ruddy? After the dough is ready, you can begin to form a loaf. How to do it?
First you need to separate from the total mass from 500 to 600 grams of dough. This amount will be enough to form jewelry. From the remaining test it is necessary to form a ball. The baking sheet should be covered with parchment paper. Put a ball of dough on it. It is recommended to moisten the workpiece with water. This must be done very carefully.
Now you can start making jewelry. Billets and the loaf itself in the manufacturing process should be regularly moistened with water. So that all this does not dry out and does not crack. While the jewelry will be made, the loaf may increase in size.
Decoration Methods
Decoration loaf - this is another crucial moment. This process should be given special attention. After all, every element of the decor has a certain meaning. There are several ways to decorate muffins. In the first case, the elements are still attached to the raw loaf. This method is only suitable for experienced housewives. After all, there is a risk that jewelry will become blurry and lose their appeal.
The second way - this decoration loaf 15 minutes before readiness. This method is suitable for those who decorate muffin for the first time. In this case, the elements will have time to brown without losing their shape.
Jewelry and their meaning
It is customary to decorate a wedding loaf with elements that carry a hidden meaning. What to choose for muffin decor? Most often used for decoration:
- Bunches of viburnum. This is one of the essential decorations for wedding baking. This element symbolizes abundance and love.
- Pigtail . This element is used to decorate all loaves, placing it on the very edge of the muffin. A pigtail is a symbol of the sun.
- Wheat ear. This element is a symbol of fertility.
- Roses . These flowers are a traditional decoration for wedding loaves. After all, they symbolize love.
- Leaves They should also be present at the pastry. After all, leaves are a symbol of abundance and youth.
How to sculpt jewelry
Making jewelry for the loaf is not an easy task, which requires accuracy and certain knowledge. So, here are some ways to create items from a test:
- To make a bunch of viburnum, you need to roll enough thick balls. After that, each blank must be cut into two parts. The result should be hemispheres. They should be fixed on the surface of the loaf, thus forming a branch of viburnum.
- To make a pigtail, it is necessary to twist three plaits from the dough. Their length should be 2.5 times the circumference of the loaf. One edge of the workpieces must be carefully secured, and then braid from them. In conclusion, the element should be fixed with a skewer.
- To make a wheat ear, you should roll a tourniquet. One end should be narrow, and the second wide. After this, the workpiece must be transferred to the loaf. The wide edge should be slightly cut with scissors so that something like ears is formed.
- To make roses, you need to roll 3-4 thin circles. One of the blanks should be rolled up, and the next should be wrapped around it, slightly bending the edges. The result should be a neat and magnificent decoration.
- To form leaves, it is necessary to cut a rhombus from the rolled dough, and then cut its edges. The result should be teeth. Streaks on the leaves can be done with a knife.
Should I make a recess for salt
As a rule, a small indentation is made in the center of the wedding loaf. After baking, a small container of salt is placed in it. The notch on the pastry also needs to be decorated. To do this, you can use elements such as a pigtail, ears of corn or leaves.
When the newlyweds are presented with a loaf, they will have to break off a piece of muffin for themselves and, after dipping it in salt, eat it. This is an obligatory ritual that symbolizes a pood of salt eaten together, and also portends a married couple a happy life.
How to bake a loaf
While preparing decorations for baking, it is necessary to turn on the oven and heat it to 200 ° C. When all the blanks are ready, it is necessary to decorate them with a ball of dough. At the end, the loaf should be covered with a solution prepared from yolk and a tablespoon of water. Due to this, the pastry will be ruddy and mouth-watering.
So, how to bake a delicious loaf for a wedding celebration. The dish with the workpiece should be placed in a preheated oven. During the baking process, it is not recommended to open the door and check the readiness of the muffin. Otherwise, the loaf will settle and lose its splendor.
When the baking surface becomes rosy, it is necessary to cover the dish with foil, and then lower the temperature in the oven to 180 ° C. When the loaf is ready, it is necessary to cool it for 20 minutes. To do this, turn off the oven and open its door. Lightly cooled product should be put on a dish or tray, previously covered with napkins.
Final stage
The surface of the loaf must be lubricated with butter. Also for these purposes, you can use water with sugar. Top baking should be covered with paper towels, and then a towel. Baking in this form should "rest" during the night. It is worth noting that you can present such a loaf for a birthday.
Making wedding muffin is an event that requires accuracy and full dedication. The hostess must invest a piece of her soul in her creation. It is necessary to bake a loaf with love, as well as with prayers.