Lardy Jacks & Johnny Boys (Medieval English Sweet Cakes)

Basic English Egg Dough(a bread dough made of milk butter and eggs)
1 1/2 cups milk, scalded
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup sugar
21 g dry yeast (3 packets)
1/2 cup warm water
2 egg, beaten
9 cups flour

Lardy Jacks (use 1/3 cup egg dough)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, very soft
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup nuts

Johnny Boys
3 tablespoons cinnamon

Basic English Egg Dough:.
Pour scalded milk over butter, salt, & sugar. Cool. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until it bubbles. Add yeast to beaten eggs and then to cooled milk. Gradually add flour - only enough to make an easily handled dough. Turn out on floured surface and knead until smooth & elastic. Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise about 1 hour. Punch down and shape into 3 loaves. Place in greased loaf pan and let rise until doubled. Bake at 450º F for 10 minutes. Lower temperature to 350º F and bake 40 minutes longer.

For Lardy Jacks:.
After first rising of the Egg Dough,knead in the sugar, butter, raisins, & nuts. Roll dough to 1/2-inch thick. Cut into triangles.
Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake on greased baking sheet at 400º F until done about 15 minutes.

For Johnny Boys:.
Follow Lardy Jacks recipe above, but add 3 Tbs. cinnamon to the sugar. Shape the triangles like a boy with outflung arms (or use a gingerbreadman cookie cutter).

- Marlitt