krachel (a sort of bun)

Ingredients : 

* 1 1/2kg (3 ibs 5oz) of fine flour * 500 g (1 lbs 2 oz) of lump sugar pounded in a mortar

* 75 g (3 oz) of baker’s yeast * 3 soupspoonfuls mixed grilled sesame seeds and aniseed

* 4 or 5 grams of gum-acacia crushed with 1/2 teaspoonful of salt * 1 teaglassful of melted butter

* 1 teaglassful of orange-flower water * more or less depending on the absorption of the flour

Preparation: 

First, take half the flour sieve it adding a little salt. Mix with 50g (2 oz) yeast diluted in a little water and knead, adding sufficient water to make a dough a little less stiff than for bread. Knead hard then place it in a bowl and cover with a cloth. Leave near a source of heat to prove for 2 or 3 hours.

When the dough has risen, turn it out on the table and add the remainder of the flour, the pounded sugar, the remaining 25 g (1 oz) of yeast, the melted butter, warmed orange-flower water, aniseed and sesame seeds with the ground acacia. Knead hard. Rapidly shape balls the size of your fist and flatten lightly by passing them from the palm of one hand to the other to make small round buns about 1 cm (1/2’) thick.

As they are prepared place them on a blanket covered with a clean cloth. Cover warmly and leave to rise for approximately 2 to 3 hours. Check the dough to see if it is completely risen by poking a finger gently in one of the buns. When the finger is withdrawn the dough should return to its shape.Then brush the buns with egg yolk, prick with a fork in several places and put in the oven.