Welcoming 2014 with a Greek VASILOPITA that we made ourselves...
Tradition has it, that a coin is inserted inside the cake before baking and cut into pieces once the New Year arrives...
The person that finds the coin is believed to have luck in the year that follows !!!
The Vasilopita recipe we use is one that has almond flour, walnuts, plenty of different spices, orange peel and juice...
All these are ingredients too, that are used in New Year's Feast to bring luck.
Our cake was covered using Chocolate Nutela & then sprinkled with shredded coconut to resemble a snow covered landscape.
Chocolate Covered Santa (Agios Vasilis) were used as decor... Since Agios Vasilios & gift giving is celebrated on New Years Day in Greece.
The Chocolate numbers are really easy to make. Just chop dark chocolate and place in a plastic bag in microwave to melt at low temperature... Snip an edge & write on a silicone surface as you please. Let cool, place in refrigerator & assemble when needed :-)
Our recipe, which we claim is the best...
can be found in Greek here http://www.nomika-epilekta.gr/strepsodikopanoyrgia/gastronomika/basilopita-epilekti
You can also use any type of cake recipe as long as you don't forget to place a coin or another VASILOPITA or VASILOPITTA recipe in English you may have.
The tradition carries on all through January at work places & organizations to celebrate the New Year...
Happy 2014 U-guys !!!
*** The above photos show you the VASILOPITA before assembly of coconut topping ;-)
Looks great this way too !!!
