Moravian Love Feast Buns: Christmas Eve, NC

A Lovefeast service is a service dedicated to Christian love & is most famously practiced by the Moravian.
   The Moravian Lovefeast is based on the Agape feast and the meals of the early churches described in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles, which were partaken in unity and love. It is not to be confused with or serve as a replacement for Communion.
  Traditionally for American Lovefeasts, a sweetened bun & coffee is served to the congregation in the pews by dieners (servers); before partaking, a simple grace is said.

Beth's mom used to make these buns for her to take to her teachers. Beth later made them for Amy & Rob also. It's a Crow family Christmas tradition. This is how they're made: 

Ingredients:

1 Cup Mashed Potatoes
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Warm Water
1 Tbsp Grated Orange Rind
1 Tbsp Orange Juice
1/4 tsp Nutmeg (Ground)
5 Cups Flour (All Purpose)
1/2 Cup Scaled Milk
1/2 Cup Butter
3 Pkg. Yeast
2 Eggs
1 tsp Grated Lemon Rind
1 tsp Lemon Juice (approx. 4 lemons)
1/2 tsp Mace

Directions:

To prepare the mashed potatoes, peel, dice and cook until tender. 
Drain and mash finely; cool to lukewarm. 



Scald milk. 

Combine sugar, butter, and salt. Dissolve yeast in warm water. 

Into the sugar mixture, stir the lukewarm milk, potatoes, yeast, 

   eggs, orange and lemon juice and rinds, nutmeg and mace. 

 Stir in 2 1/2 cups flour; beat by hand until smooth. 

 Add enough additional flour to make soft dough. 

  Turn out onto floured surface and kneed until satiny, about 5 minutes. 

 

Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk. 

Punch down! Cover and let rest 5-10 minutes. 

(Making it the ultimate break-up bread in my opinion.
Let loose the aggression!)

 Shape into cakes (1-2 inch size balls). Place on greased baking pans. Do not let them touch. Let rise until doubled in bulk. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.