Make It. Pan muerto.

Today is Dia de los Muertos -- a Mexican celebration of love ones who've died -- and for the first time I can't just go out to a panaderia and buy pan muerto (dead bread).

Pan muerto is a delicious traditional sweet bread made and sold for this holiday, and today I'll be making my first pan muerto since it's not a celebrated holiday where I live in Chile.

What you'll need:

1 1/4 teaspoon of dry-active yeast

1/4 cup margarine

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs, beaten

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons orange zest

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup warm water

What you'll do:

1. First combine all the liquids, milk, melted margarine, then warm water. Set aside.

2. Mix all dry products: salt, 1/4 of the sugar, yeast, and 1 cup of the flour.

3. Beat in the warm milk mixture, eggs, and orange zest. Then gradually add flour.

4. Knead the mix, and let sit for 1-2 hours until it rises, doubling in size.

5. Shape the bread however you want it to look, usually with a design on top, then pop it into the oven at 350 F for 35-45.

6. To make the glaze, combine 1/4 sugar, orange, and orange zest in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, and glaze over the warm bread.

-- Lauren Williams

Photo credit: Pan Muerto being sold in the streets of Santiago, Mexico. WikiCommons.