nosh

I had to sort of Norte-Americanize these. I couldn't face the brilliant fake colors usually used to top them. But these were delicious, I made them into the crescents with the filling INside instead of over the top of the seashell-like ones.

Recipe behind the cut curtain!
1 1/2 c boiling water
1 stick butter
1/2 c honey
1/3 cup powdered milk
1 T vanilla
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 ounce fresh yeast (or 1 T dried....dissolved in a wee bit of warm water)
4 large eggs
4-5 cups flour (I used a mix of whole wheat and white)

Melt butter and dissolve honey in the boiling water in a large bowl. Add powdered milk, vanilla, and salt. When it is cooled to just under skin temp (about 90) whisk in yeast. Beat in the eggs, then the flour....a bit more if needed to made stiff, kneadable dough. Knead until smooth and set to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm place, covered.

Make filling:

1/2 c flour
3/4 cup shredded green pumpkin seeds (the kind with the shell OFF)...I do this using a small coffee grinder never used for coffee...only spices, nuts, etc)
1 c powdered sugar
1 T cinnamon
6 T butter
1 whole egg, 1 egg yolk
(1 egg white and crystalized sugar for topping)

Blend together dry ingredients, cut in the butter, as for making biscuits, etc. Stir in the egg and egg yolk and set aside for when dough has risen.

Punch down doubled dough...divide into 8 equal bits. Now, shaping is your choice.....round and plain and set to rise is simplest. But I roll them out into ovals about 1/4" thick. I spread the filling on them, roll them up so they are about 8"-10" long. Then I twist them and lay them on the prepared greased baking sheet in crescent shapes, with the ends pinched together slightly. (if doing the round ones, the risen rolls is coated on top with the filling, and it is 'combed' thru to make the typical 'seashell' design. The filling is often brilliantly tinted pink or blue)

Let rise 30-40 minutes. Brush with egg white, sprinkle with sugar crystals of whatever color you like (I used white). Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, they should sound hollow on the bottom. Serve warm or cool as desired!