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Uncle Eddie is a larger than life character in ‘Energetics: The First Order,’ and below is one of his recipes:

“Eddie, Samantha’s brother, was an accomplished baker, and many Saturdays before sunrise Jordy’s nostrils were filled with the smell of yeast and fresh cinnamon sticks, pop-overs, sticky buns or cat pies. Sleepy-eyed, he’d make his way to the dimly lit kitchen and fall into his uncle’s open arms—Just like being wrapped in warm dough, Jordy remembered.”

Photo submitted by Bonnie Schroyer

Prep Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 2 1/2 hrs

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons large granule sea salt, or 1 teaspoon fine grind sea salt

1/4 cup shortening (better yet 1/4 cup salted butter)

1/2 ounce dry yeast, 2 packages (Fleischmann’s Active Dry Yeast, Instant Yeast, Rapid Rise Yeast or Fast Rising Yeast)

1/2 cup very warm water

2 eggs, beaten

4 cups King Arthur bread flour

Filling:

2 cups brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1 cup crushed walnuts

1 cup raisins (optional)

1/2 cup (1 stick) of melted butter

Directions:

1. Scald milk and stir in sugar, salt and shortening/butter
2. Cool to lukewarm
3. Dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar in very warm water
4. Wait for the yeast to bloom (approx. 20 min)
5. Stir the yeast mixture into the lukewarm milk mixture
6. Add beaten eggs
7. Add 3 cups flour
8. Beat until smooth
9. Stir in an additional cup flour
10. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic
11. Place in a greased bowl and brush top with melted butter
12. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from draft, until double in bulk (about 1 hour)
13. Punch down and turn out onto lightly floured table
14. Roll into rectangle 2-1/2 ft x 1-1/2 ft  x 1/2” approx.
15. Spread filling onto rectangle evenly
16. Divide down the middle lengthwise
17. Cut across making 9” x 3” strips approx.
18. Fold the strips side to side and twist 3 times
19. Generously butter a large baking dish
20. Place the twisted cinnamon sticks side by side touching each other
21. When all the sticks have been placed in the baking dish, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with brown sugar
22. Put in oven with the oven light on and let rise until double in volume
23. Place in the center of the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until evenly golden brown
24. Enjoy!

Making this recipe is like uncle Eddie came to visit: the smell of the yeast rising, the aroma of cinnamon, the taste of yesteryear, and of course, dunking the cinnamon sticks in hot coffee.

The memories are priceless.

Daniel Ward

Photo submitted by Bonnie Schroyer

Photo submitted by Bonnie Schroyer