An incredible recipe from by mum’s cookery book …!
Vasilopita is the highlight of the season’s festivities for me. The special dessert is named after St Basil, a very wealthy and generous man living in Cappadocia in the 4th century who, as the story goes, decided to distribute his fortune to those in need, by making small pies and hiding money or jewellry in each one of them.
On New Year’s Day in Greece and in many European countries, families cut the Vasilopita (New Year’s white cake) to bless the house and bring good luck for the new year.
This is usually done at the midnight of New Year’s Eve. A coin is hidden in the cake by slipping it into the dough after baking. At midnight the sign of the cross is etched with a knife across the cake. A piece of cake is sliced for each member of the family and any visitors present at the time, as well as for Saints or whomever else the household wants to honour, by order of age from eldest to youngest.
Whoever finds the coin is supposed to have good luck for the rest of the year .
