St. Basil's Cake (Vassilopitta - Greek)

The Greeks eat Vassilopitta, a cake in which a gold coin has been baked. The cake is served in a sequence, the first piece is set aside for St. Basil, a founder of the Greek Church, the second for the home, and the remaining is distributed amongst family members, from oldest to youngest. Whoever finds the coin in their serving of cake will have a lucky year.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup milk, heated 20 seconds in microwave
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup blanched slivered almonds
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, beat butter and sugar together until creamy. Add flour and mix. Add eggs one by one, mixing after each egg is added.
3. Add baking powder to the warm milk and then add to flour mixture, blending well.
4. In the same container the milk was in, mix the baking soda and lemon juice, add to flour mixture and stir well.
5. Pour cake batter into a greased 10 inch round pan and bake for 20 minutes.
6. Sprinkle nuts and sugar on top of cake, and bake for approximately 30 minutes longer, until cake is done.
7. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes.*
8. Serve cake warm.

Notes

* According to Greek tradition you should cut a hole in the bottom of the cake (while cooling it) and add a foil-wrapped coin in the hole. Slice cake and serve, ensuring everyone knows there is a coin in one piece so that they don't bite on it.