[Sca-cooks] Vasilopita

[kingstaste at mindspring.com]

Here is my entry on St. Basil and the legend behind this food.
Christianna

January 1st
St. Basil's Feast Day (4th Cent) Patron Saint of the Greek Orthodox Church,
Russia, and Hospital Administrators.  Bishop of Caesaria and a Greek Church
Father.   One legend has it that the governor of the district was coming to
Caesaria for a "visit", which the people feared would be only to line his
cruel and avaristic pockets.  St. Basil urged them to greet the governor at
the city gates with gold and jewels.  They did so, and the governor was so
impressed that he refused the treasure and went on his way.  St. Basil
looked at the pile and despaired of ever returning each piece to its
rightful owner. So he held a mass, and had the jewels baked into small
cakes.  When they were passed out, miraculously each person received their
own treasure.  Today, Greek families bake basilopitta, or fortune cakes,
with treasures baked inside each one.  Only the mistress of the house,
dressed in her best clothes and jewels should make St. Basil’s cakes.  Most
cultures eat something round or ring-shaped to symbolize the cycle of the
year.

From: "366 Days of Celebrations, or, A Year Full Of Reasons To Throw A
Party" by Christine Seelye-King


> So, when yah gonna post the Vasilopita recipe?
>
> Bear


This comes from the recipe book "Middle Eastern Cooking" by Rose Dosti and
published by HP books in 1982.  Has recipes from five cultures, Iranian,
Arabic, Near Eastern, North African and Israeli.  I am particularly please
with the flat bread recipe that is done over the back of a large Wok. (saw
that on the Discovery Channel!)

New Year's Bread
Vasilopita (Greece)

Note: A coin is hidden in the bread.  Whoever finds it will have good luck
in the New Year.
Simon Note: An internet search can turn up in depth traditions on this bread
the bread of St Basil, and who and why and order of seniority the bread is
first cut in the New Year.

<snip>