Recipe for Saturnalia Cake

***August 1998; by the teachers on Latinteach.com***

1 pinch baking soda
2 packages dry yeast
3/8 cup warm water
1/2 cup lukewarm milk (scalded and cooled)
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup soft lard (Crisco....)
4 & 1/2 or 5 cups white flour
1 cup diced fruits and raisins
1 tablespoon anise seed
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 tablespoon water
1 egg white

Dissolve yeast in warm water by sprinkling on top of the water. With a wooden spoon, stir in the honey and 2 & 1/2 cups flour. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in milk, salt, 2 eggs, lard and baking soda. Beat until smooth. Mix in fruits, raisins, and nuts, and enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

Turn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes). Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double.

Punch down dough; divide in half. Shape each half into round, slightly flat loaf. Place loaves in opposite corners of baking sheet. Cut a cross 1/2 inch deep on top of each loaf. Let rise until double (about 1 hour).

Heat oven to 325. Blend egg white and 1 tablespoon water; brush on loaves.

Bake 35-45 minutes.