Christmas Tree Bread

2 c. warm water
1/3 c. sugar
2 pkg. yeast
wait until yeast is dissolved
with mixer beat:
3 eggs
1/3 cup margarine, melted
add 2 cups flour
2 t. salt
yeast mixture
Beat well, then gradually add
4 1/2-5 c. flour.  Should be sticky
Beat with bread hooks.  Let rest 20 minutes
Roll out dough into large rectangle.  Slice very cold butter and place on middle third of rectangle.  Fold one side over and repeat butter slices.  Fold the other third over and seal the edges.  Roll out and fold several times.  Repeat.  Use 2-3 cubes.  Place in covered container in fridge until ready to use, at least one half hour.  Roll dough out and cut into Triangle for base.  Use a doughnut cutter, and place the rounds in rows on the tree, and cut a star for the top, and a base for the tree.  let rise and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.  Watch carefully.  When barely warm, fill circles with red jelly and serve.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

1 pkg. fresh spinach
1/4 lb. strawberries sliced
1 small red onion sliced into rings
1/2 cup almond slivers (optional)

Dressing:
1/4 cup oil
3 T red wine vinegar or rice vinegar
2 T sugar or splenda
1 1/2 t. poppy seeds
1/2 t. dry mustard
1/2 t. salt

Tuck Shop Cinnamon Buns

An electric mixer is needed for this recipe as it requires a lot of beating.  If the dough is too soft to handle, add a bit more flour. However, the less flour used, the better the buns will be.

Soften 2 packages instant yeast or 1 oz. fresh yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and 2 T sugar.  Let mixture set until the yeast is dissolved (about 10 minutes).

In a large bowl, put 2 cups boiling water, 3 T. margarine, 2 t. salt and 3 T. sugar.  Let the margarine melt and the mixture  cool a bit.  Then add 2 cups all purpose flour.  Beat this mixture hard until very smooth and creamy (about 5 minutes).  Then add the yeast mixture, 3 eggs, and 3 1/4 cups additional flour.  Continue beating until the dough is doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).

While the dough is rising, in a flat pan melt 1/3 c. margarine and set aside to cool.  In a flat dish mix 1 cup white sugar and 1 1/2 t. cinnamon.  Turn the raised dough onto a lightly floured work surface.  Let the dough set 5-10 minutes to "firm up."

Cut the dough into pieces about the size of an orange.  Dip each piece of dough first in the melted margarine, then coat it well in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Stretch the dough piece until it is 4-5 inches long and form it into a simple knot.  Place the knots side by side in a 9" x 12" x 2" pan.  Be sure the pan is 2" deep and allow a 3" square for each bun.)  Let the finished buns rise for ab out 45 minutes.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  Makes 18 buns.