Culachi

We’re not a family who’s going to make it to a sunrise Easter service. Or any church service, actually, but we do have an Easter tradition in our household: Italian Easter bread, or Culachi.

It’s a laborious process, making this Paschal bread, so it’s better left to the menfolk.

That being the case, T orchestrated the Culachi making, from start to finish, with just a bit of help from the rest of us.

First he made the dough and let it rise…….

Next, it needed a good kneading

then lots of stretching.

Now comes the fun part, twisting and braiding the dough into the desired shapes.

The most beloved loaf in my husband’s family is the “Jesus” loaf. I kid you not. Just take a look:

Yep, that’s poor ol’ Jesus being twisted up on the cross. With an egg for his head.

But he sure did put on a happy face. (Merrell does not really get the part about suffering on the cross for our sins, apparently - but then I told you we aren’t church going folk.)

Next comes the baking (boring).

Then, finally, the loafs are pulled from the oven, painted with a slightly beaten egg,

and, viola, pure joy.


If you're wondering where the cooked Jesus is, we ate him straight away, ripping sections off and scrapping them right in the butter dish.

Delish.