Shrove Tuesday

In Finland, the Shrove Tuesday is called laskiainen and is celebrated by eating green pea soup and a pastry called laskiaispulla, which is a bun filled with whipped cream and strawberry jam. The celebration often includes downhill sledging. We did follow all traditions, expect sledging. Me and Emma baked buns in the morning and hubby prepared pea soup. Leevi had his last work day, from now on he'll study for entrance examinations full-time.

We have also celebrated Kalevala Day today, it's is a day for commemorating the Kalevala and Finnish culture.


Here is a recipe for Shrove Tuesday Buns:

Laskiaispulla  (20 buns)

Ingredients:

1 cup - Milk
1/4 cup - Sugar
2 tsp - cardamom ( finely ground)
1 - Egg
1 packet - Dry yeast
1/2 tsp - Salt
3 cups - Flour ( all-purpose)
7 Tbs - Butter ( melted)
Sugar flakes for garnish ( optional)

Procedure:

Heat the milk to lukewarm. (about 115-120 degrees Fahrenheit).
Once lukewarm, add the salt, sugar and cardamom and mix well.
Lightly beat one egg and then divide the beaten egg in half. Add half the beaten egg to the milk mixture. Reserve the other half to use as an egg wash.

Sift the flour. In a mixing bowl, add 2 1/4 cups of flour and the yeast . Reserve the remaining 3/4 cup flour to the side.
Slowly begin to pour the liquids into the mixing bowl with the flour and yeast. Once all is incorporated, add the melted butter.
Now use the reserved flour to adjust the consistency of the dough, if need be. The dough should be soft but not sticky. If sticky add some more flour.

Hint - You want to use any additional flour as sparingly as possible. Too much flour and the buns will not have the soft texture we are looking for once cooked. The buns will become too hard and this is what you want to avoid.




+2°C, rainy!