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Lardy Jacks & Johnny Boys (Medieval English Sweet Cakes)
 
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Prep Time: 60 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 75 Minutes
Servings: 6
This recipe is actually 3 in 1. The base for this is a Basic English Egg Dough and then 2 variations of the recipes These are really quite nice, they are like a sweet bisquit. I got this recipe when I was helping my daughter a school project. The original recipe dates back to the 17th century. It was almost impossible to read (I'm not sure if that was they way they wrote back then or a literacy issue) Anyway this a modernized version. It was really kind of fun since I enjoyed the recipe I kept it.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups milk, scalded
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup sugar
21 g dry yeast (3 packets)
1/2 cup warm water
2 eggs, beaten
9 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, very soft
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup nuts
3 tablespoons cinnamon
Directions:
1. Basic English Egg Dough:.
2. Pour scalded milk over butter, salt, & sugar.
3. Cool.
4. Dissolve yeast in warm water.
5. Let stand until it bubbles.
6. Add yeast to beaten eggs and then to cooled milk.
7. Gradually add flour - only enough to make an easily handled dough.
8. Turn out on floured surface and knead until smooth & elastic.
9. Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise about 1 hour.
10. Punch down and shape into 3 loaves.
11. Place in greased loaf pan and let rise until doubled.
12. Bake at 450º F for 10 minutes. Lower temperature to 350º F and bake 40 minutes longer.
13. For Lardy Jacks:.
14. After first rising of the Egg Dough,knead in the sugar, butter, raisins, & nuts. Roll dough to 1/2-inch thick. Cut into triangles.
15. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake on greased baking sheet at 400º F until done about 15 minutes.
16. For Johnny Boys:.
17. Follow Lardy Jacks recipe above, but add 3 Tbs. cinnamon to the sugar. Shape the triangles like a boy with outflung arms (or use a gingerbreadman cookie cutter).
By RecipeOfHealth.com