The butter to my bread

Couple weeks ago, on an ordinary Monday, my receptionist called and told me that I have a very cute delivery up front.  I didn't know what to expect at all, but quickly walked to the front desk to "claim" my delivery.  In my mind I was thinking, I ordered something from Amazon, but how could she know what I ordered is cute?! 

I got there and saw this cute Hello Kitty Edible Arrangement, but I still had no clue who sent that to me.  I was thinking must be one of the clients from my cupcakery...until I got to read the card...ha-ha, who else, silly me, of course my husband.  That's one of the sweetest things I ever received from my husband.  He is such a sweetheart and he is "the butter to my bread and the breath to my life".  How I could love this guy less?!  This cute surprise made me think of this song from Stevie Wonder:

No New Year's Day to celebrate
No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away
No first of spring
No song to sing
In fact here's just another ordinary day

No April rain
No flowers bloom
No wedding Saturday within the month of June
But what it is, is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you

No summer's high
No warm July
No harvest moon to light one tender August night
No autumn breeze
No falling leaves
Not even time for birds to fly to southern skies

No Libra sun
No Halloween
No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring
But what it is, though old so new
To fill your heart like no three words could ever do

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart

Let's make some potica!

I had been following one of my friends' blog, Second Snack since they started.  They always share  good places to eat, some interesting and useful tips, or some yummy recipes.

I am honored and lucky enough to share their family recipe of potica (nut roll) with all of you here (thanks to Thomas and Sarah, who let me to share their family recipe on my blog).

First you will ask...What is Potica?

Potica ("po-teet-sah") is known to those of Slovenian ancestry.  An old world pastry, Potica is made from a dough rolled so thin and wide that a newspaper can be read through it. Then layered with walnuts, butter, cream and vanilla, is rolled into a spiral and baked to a crisp amber brown. Serve it with any meal or for a snack. Potica is delicious plain, by itself, heated or unheated. But you can enjoy it many different ways.

Serve with:
   -Ham - Bacon and eggs - Sausage - Fruit

Top with:
   -Ice cream or vanilla pudding
   -Lemon, chocolate or caramel sauce
   -Whipped cream and strawberries

Dough3/4 cup milk - scalded and cooled
1 1/2 packages dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour (approximately)
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, salt yeast and cooled milk.
Stir in flour. Turn out onto floured pastry cloth or board and knead until smooth (about 10 minutes). Place in greased bowl and let rise until double in bulk. Roll out onto floured cloth until very thin.

Filling4 cups (1 lb) ground walnuts
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs - beaten
bread crumbs
cinnamon
butter

Mix everything except the eggs and cook until thick. Remove from heat. Slowly add beaten eggs. Return to a boil and cook for 2-minutes. Cool. Spread over thinly rolled dough. Sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs, dot or grate frozen butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up like a jelly roll. Squeeze out from the middle. Place in greased 9X13 pan (2) and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Bake approximately 1 hour at 350 degrees.