A Poets View

Coming from a Greek and Italian background our holiday celebrations always centered around food.  One Greek tradition that I vividly remember is the New Year’s Day good luck cake.  There are various forms of this pastry but I wanted to share with you my Mom’s recipe.  The New Year’s Day cake or bread would be baked with a coin inside the batter.  Usually a dime though it could be a quarter.  On New Year’s Day morning the family would sit around the table and each family member, old to young, would be given a piece of the cake.  The person that found the coin in the cake was to have good luck throughout the year.  I think I received maybe 6 coins my entire life although I have to say I’ve been pretty lucky.  In any case I wanted to share with all of you my Mom’s recipe for the cake.

3 cups water
2 1/2 cups sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 lb. sweet butter
1 cup sugar
6 eggs well beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbls. honey
1 cup flour
1 cup farina (cream of wheat)
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
3 tsp. baking powder
Dime or Quarter.

Bring the water to a boil in saucepan.  Stir in sugar until dissolved.  Simmer, uncovered, about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Stir in lemon juice then remove from heat.  Cool at room temperature.  Cream the butter in a large mixing bowl, Add sugar.  Cream 5 minutes longer.  Beat in eggs, vanilla, honey and walnuts.  Add flour, farina, the dime or quarter ( make sure to boil the coin before adding) and baking powder.  Beat until smooth.  Pour into a buttered 9 x13 x2 baking pan.  Bake in 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and glaze top with honey.  Let it set 1 hour before serving.

Enjoy!

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