Do you ever have a scent that as soon as you smell it you are instantly transferred to your childhood? To your safe place? This New Year’s bread wakes up all sort of memories for me! You see, I come from a poor family so my dad and mum had to work a lot so my siblings and I had the blessing to be raised by our grandparents. My grandfather introduced me to the magical world of books and fairy tales (he was deaf so this was his safe place I guess) but my nan initiated me to all the traditional recipes she brought with her when the Turkish invasion happened. Of course the recipes were all memorised, nothing was ever put down to paper because she didn’t know how to read or write. A part of me is very happy that I got the chance the learn from her and taste her authentic Cypriot food but at the same time I feel very sad that I didn’t get the opportunity to write down everything she knew before her memory stopped helping her.

This bread is yummy and festive and so tasteful that every mouthful is an explosion of Cyprus I guess in your mouth! It has cinnamon, and aniseed and sesame seeds that all work together to create a different bread experience. To top all of these, it is decorated with a Santa Claus to become ever more jovial!It is usually baked on New Year’s eve to be consumed on New Year’s day when all the family gets together. Traditionally,  the New Year’s bread or cake contains a hidden coin which gives good luck to the receiver.

This year, I didn’t travel to Cyprus for Christmas so I baked this bread and Cyprus came to me! It’s funny how food has the special quality…

Right, let’s get baking my darlings!