In loving memory of my family and friends.

I really wanted to post this last week but I just did not get it done. And officially Dias de Muertes is still going on in Mexico today.

God Bless all the friends and family that have gone before me. I think of each of you often. Though you may not be here, you live in our hearts and memories. All the kind things that you did in your life live on and reverberate out to those around us.

While we, who are still living, have no idea what lies on the threshold of the next life, look forward to seeing all our loved ones once again.

Pan de Muerto
original recipe can be found here.
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, cut into 8 pieces
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour, unsifted
2 tablespoons orange water extract
1 teaspoon lemon rind
2 teaspoons sugar

Instructions: Bring milk to boil and remove from heat. Stir in margarine or butter, 1/4 cup sugar and salt.

In large bowl, mix yeast with warm water until dissolved and let stand 5 minutes. Add the milk mixture.

Separate the yolk and white of one egg. Add the yolk to the yeast mixture, but save the white for later. Now add flour to the yeast and egg. Blend well until dough ball is formed.

Knead until smooth. Return to large bowl and cover with dish towel. Let rise in warm place for 90 minutes. Meanwhile, grease a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Knead dough again on floured surface. Now divide the dough into fourths and set one fourth aside. Roll the remaining 3 pieces into "ropes."

On greased baking sheet, pinch 3 rope ends together and braid. Finish by pinching ends together on opposite side. Divide the remaining dough in half and form 2 "bones." Cross and lay them atop braided loaf.

Cover bread with dish towel and let rise for 30 minutes. In a bowl, beat egg white lightly.

When 30 minutes are up, brush top of bread with egg white and sprinkle with sugar, except on cross bones. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.