Let’s Get Lucky!
Vasilopita Greek Lucky New Year’s Cake
Bring on the luck!
This Greek New Year's cake/bread is sweet and moist. That's why I call it cake. Tradition says the cake must be sliced at the first stroke of midnight and gobbled up right away. Just like Cracker Jacks, there's a little hidden surprise inside so this tradition is loads of fun for the family.
PS....The person who receives the quarter inside gets good luck for 1 year!
What you’ll need:
1 cup butter (Room Temp)
2 cups white sugar **go sugar free, I like using Lakanto Monkfruit Sugar substitute. Use same measurement for Monkfruit sugar sub.
3 cups all-purpose flour **go Gluten free, I like using Cup4Cup All Purpose flour. Pro Tip: Although this is Cup4Cup meaning you should be able to substitute 1 cup Cup4Cup for 1 cup flour, I've noticed that some recipes require less Cup4Cup. Just add the Cup4Cup 1/4 cup at a time. This mixture should be the consistency of regular cake batter.
6 eggs (Room Temp)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice/ orange juice **or 3-5 drops doTerra Lemon or Orange essential oil. Pro Tip: You can over do this one, so add a drop at a time and taste the batter like a good baker would.
¼ cup blanched slivered almonds
2 tablespoons white sugar **or Lakanto Monkfruit Sugar substitute.
1 Coin such as a quarter. Don't worry, It will be ok to bake and also eat as long as you're using a fork.
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS:
Toasted Sesame Seeds
2 tbs lemon or orange zest
Now, let’s get lucky…
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 10 inch round cake pan.Step 2
In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light. Stir in the flour and mix until the mixture is mealy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine the baking powder and milk, add to the egg mixture, mix well. Then combine the lemon juice and baking soda, stir into the batter. Pour into the prepared cake pan.Step 3
Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and sprinkle the nuts and sugar over the cake, then return it to the oven for 20 to 30 additional minutes, until cake springs back to the touch. Gently cut a small hole in the cake and place a quarter in the hole. Try to cover the hole with sugar. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes before inverting onto a plate.Step 4
Serve cake warm. Each person in the family gets a slice starting with the youngest. The person who gets the quarter in their piece, gets good luck for the whole year!
Why substitute these ingredients with the suggestions mentioned? To live a healthier lifestyle. Do I sacrifice flavor/texture when using the suggested substitutes? Well, I have a finicky hubby who swears he can taste the difference when I substitute ingredients. I can gladly say that these substitute suggestions are Curtis Approved! The biggest difference I've noticed is that the cake may be more moist with the substitutes suggestions. Why use doTerra Lemon essential oils (EOs)? Flavor consistency and ease of use, not to mention that you don't have to go to the store just to get great Lemon flavor. Can you really ingest EOs? Not all EOs are created equal and that's why I choose doTerra EOs because they are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade and safe to ingest. Click here to shop
Lucky New Year’s Cocktail
Drink in good fortune!
Doesn’t this fun drink look delicious and refreshing? With a little pop of fruity flavor and the bubbles from the champagne its sure to be a hit! Did you know that in different cultures around the world, oranges and pomegranates are considered lucky? Oranges and pomegranates are the fruits to give as gifts to friends and family to bring the ones you love lots of love and of course, a year filled with good luck! Happy New Year’s.
What you’ll need:
1 ounce fresh squeezed orange juice
1 ounce fresh squeezed pomegranate juice
1 ounce Orange Flavored Vodka **or use regular vodka with 1-2 drops doTerra Wild Orange essential oil (eo)
2 ounces orange curacao **or Grand Marnier or Cointreau
2 ounces Sweet Rosé Champagne
1 cup ice
How to mix and serve…
Place the glasses you will be using in the freezer 2 to 3 hours before serving to chill them for the best results, champagne glasses are perfect for this delicious concoction.
Combine all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth.
Pour into a chilled stemware glass.
Garnish with an orange peel and a few pomegranate seeds.
Serve.
Why use essential oils (EO) instead of herbs and fruit? Simply for the consistency, potency and freshness in flavor. Plus, you don't have to run to the store to get fresh ingredients. You'll never get one sour drop out of doTerra EOs. Can you really ingest EOs? Not all EOs are created equal and that's why I choose doTerra because they are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade and safe to ingest. Why don't you have EO substitutes for the orange, pomegranate juices? Easy—you need to have all the liquid ingredients to make the bulk of this Lucky Cocktail. Click here to shop