PAN DE LA REINA
Alicia Romero contributed this delicious holiday bread recipe to New Mexico Magazine many years ago.
1 envelope yeast
½ cup warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
4 cups flour
1 cup butter or margarine
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
6 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon anise seeds
Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Mix in 1 teaspoon sugar and just enough flour to make a soft ball. Cover and place in a warm place to rise for at least an hour. Add the remaining flour, melted butter, salt, sugar, eggs, milk and anise seeds and mix and knead until smooth and velvety. Cover and let rise to double its original bulk. Punch down and knead slightly. Pull off small pieces, mold into balls and place in a greased tube pan. Cover and set in warm place and let rise until double in size. Bake at 350 degrees F until it is brown and shining. Rub the surface with melted butter.