​1 large round loaf
serves 12

Ingredients:
¼ cup ghee or regular butter 
¼ cup milk or milk alternative
¼ cup warm water (110 degrees)
3 cups all-purpose flour 
1 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 
½ teaspoon salt 
2 teaspoons anise seed  
¼ cup white sugar 
2 eggs, beaten 
2 teaspoons orange zest 
¼ cup white sugar 
¼ cup orange juice 
1 tablespoon orange zest 
2 tablespoons white sugar 

Instructions:
1. Heat the milk and the butter together in a medium saucepan, until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and add them warm water. The mixture should be around 110 degrees F

2. In a large bowl combine 1 cup of the flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Beat in the warm milk mixture then add the eggs and orange zest and beat until well combined. Stir in 1/2 cup of flour and continue adding more flour until the dough is soft.

3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.

4. Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. This will take about 1 to 2 hours. Punch the dough down and shape it into a large round loaf with a round knob on top. Place dough onto a baking sheet, loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until just about doubled in size.

5. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven let cool slightly then brush with glaze.

6.  To make glaze: In a small saucepan combine the 1/4 cup sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 2 minutes. Brush over top of bread while still warm. Sprinkle glazed bread with white sugar.

*substitute 1/2 teaspoon anise extract for the anise seeds.
​
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 208 calories; protein 4.8g; carbohydrates 35.7g; fat 5.1g; cholesterol 31.4mg; sodium 155.6mg. 
can also make smaller ones 

​https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-to-make-pan-de-muerto/

Mexico and other Latin American countries don't celebrate Halloween the way we do here in the US. They have a special celebration dedicated to honoring their ancestors and loved ones that have passed on to the non physical world. It is a time to celebrate with pictures, ornaments, foods, drinks and candy that remind them of their time together.

We always used to have candles and pictures of family members up, but it became very real for me when my oldest brother, Roger, passed away in 2009 at the age of 42, breaking our family's hearts and leaving a mark. It was like no other sort of pain I had ever experienced, and only time could really heal that. When I started my search to heal that loss, I remembered our family elders always believed in the spiritual world, healings, Mother Earth, and God, source in a personal way. Religion has taught us to dig deeper than the physical world, but as I searched, I learned that their spirit has always been with us. I believe we are all connected on a deeper level.  As we've learned from the mystics and older cultures, there is a place within us all where we feel this connection, this oneness of spirit. We are able to feel it all the time, whether people are living or not. We have all had a thought that leads to a person calling us out of the blue. We've all had a memory that has pops up where we laugh, cry, or recall a person's wisdom in just the right time or moment.

I remember going to a Dia de los Muertos celebration at el Centro de la Raza, where I saw a medicine man, El Curandero, at an altar. His face was split in half, one side of flesh and one side of bones, and it read, "El vivir es dormir. El morir es despertar." To live is to sleep. To die is to awaken. It rang true in my heart and soul and I felt my brother. I know people will call it a coincidence that my daughter was born on the same day, and close to the time, that my brother died. Coincidence or not, it brought light to that sad day. It resembles life... joy and pain intertwined. So now I choose to believe in more then the flesh and I celebration and honor my friends and family that have passed on. We will always remember you!
  

I bet you already know that exercise produces many positive benefits, including better health, mood, sleep, sex, and brain function. But did you know that these benefits are transferred from a mother to her baby? A 2013 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology showed that children of women who exercised during pregnancy had more mature brains than those whose mothers were inactive during pregnancy.

I am committed to helping the Fuerte community live a healthy whole life, and that of course includes having children and raising your family. You don't have to give up working out when you are pregnant, or after your baby is born. I love working with moms (and dads!) through this time of transition. Before and after my daughter was born, exercise was key to my well-being. I would love to support you in starting or continuing a fitness program,  contact me for details.