Another painting completed today for the Fruits Of The Spirit series I'm creating. This series has been commissioned by the beautiful Lefler family. Thought it would be fun for our RagTag Ruby fans to help us decide which fruit says which spirit. 

So far I have the following fruits painted:

Oranges
Strawberries
Apples
Pears
Blueberries
Lemons
Tomatoes
Pomegranates

We could use your help matching the paintings up with the following fruits of the Spirit:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self Control

Additionally if you think of any fruits that especially conjure up particular Fruits Of The Spirit let me know! We discussed painting some biblical fruits but dates and figs look too creepy to me. I'm thinking grapes or olives next!

For as long as I can remember, the woman folk of my family have made an Italian Easter Bread. There is something about smelling that warm, lemony, yeasty goodness that reminds me of why Easter is my very favorite holiday!

My mom, sister-in-law and I debate how if at all we should change the recipe (should we add in some whole grain flour, let it rise overnight, add extra lemon etc...) Ultimately we decide not to mess too much with a good thing. We've had these same conversations each year, and I relish them!

My nine year old daughter, Mia was brought in and was initiated this year as an Italian bread lovin' woman!

Since I've had a few requests, I've decided to share our family recipe. Hope you find as much joy as I do in the messiness, the waiting, the hoping and the rising ... just like Jesus' followers did when he rose again!

Italian Easter Bread

- 2 packets of yeast
- 5 cups of Unbleached bread flour
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 2 sticks of butter (unsalted)
- 2 tsp of fresh lemon juice
- the rind of 3 lemons
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- sprinkles for the top and colored eggs for decorating

Dissolve two packets of yeast into 1 cup of warm water. Add 1 1/2 cups of bread flour. Let it rise 1 1/2 hours or more covered in a warm place.

Meanwhile, cream butter, sugar and 1/2 tsp. of salt. Separately, beat 2 eggs and 1 egg white. Save the yolk. To this egg mixture slowly add in lemon juice, lemon rind and vanilla. Add all of this to the risen dough. Mix in about 4 to 5 cups of flour as needed to form a nice dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8 minutes. Let it rise covered again for at least 2 hours. Cut the dough in half as this recipe makes two loves. Each half can be braided into a rope, a cross or whatever shape you like. Brush with egg yolk then top with colored sprinkles. Press in colored and boiled eggs for decorations.

Let it rise once more over night covered with a clean cloth in the oven. This step can be skipped ... The bread can go straight in the oven once it is decorated but I think it makes the bread much more light and fluffy to give that third rising. I also love having the fresh bread hot out of the oven on Easter morning.

Bake at 325 degrees for 25-35 minutes.