Besides the Ricotta Cake, I also baked these Spiced Orange Buns for Easter Sunday. Well. I actually had my mind set on Tsoureki, the Greek Easter Sweet Bread and was looking around for a bread machine recipe for it. and the first link that popped up was by Maria Sgourakis Buehler . i had all the listed ingredients and the recipe seemed simple. so i went ahead with it. I understand that there are several other versions of Tsoureki that are spiced with Chios mastic, cardamom and vanilla. but this version is simple. it just uses ground nutmeg. nevertheless it is flavorful. and with its blend of spices and citrusy flavor its makes a perfect bite to go with your breakfast milk or evening chai.
Tsoureki breads are traditionally braided into a circle or into two large braids and sprinkled with nuts and served with Easter eggs that have been dyed deep red to represent the blood of Christ or red rosebuds. however I wasn't aware of the symbolism before and therefore braided my buns the way i did and decided to call them the Spiced Orange Buns, just so that my ignorance does not misguide someone else.
