Kvas

1 pound black bread.
2 tb active dry yeast.
1 c sugar.
6 c lukewarm water (110 - 115 C).
1 tb crumbled dried mint.
2 tb raisins.

Preheat the oven to 200?. Place the bread in the oven for about 1 hour, or until it is thoroughly dry. With a knife, cut and chop it coarsely. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in an 8-quart casserole and drop in the bread. Remove from the heat, cover loosely with a kitchen towel, and set it aside for at least 8 hours. Strain the contents of the casserole through a fine sieve set over another large pot or bowl, pressing down hard on the soaked bread with the back of a large spoon before discarding it. Sprinkle the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar over the 1/2 cup of luke warm water and stir to dissolve the yeast
completely. Set aside in a warm, draft-free spot (such as an unlighted oven) for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture almost doubles in volume. Stir the yeast mixture, the remaining sugar and mint into the strained bread water, cover with a towel, and set aside for at least 8 hours. Strain the mixture again through a fine sieve set over a large bowl or casserole, then prepare to bottle it. You will need 2 to 3 quart-sized bottles, or a gallon jug. Pour in the liquid through a funnel 2/3 of the way up the sides of the bottle. Then divide the raisins among the bottles and cover the top of each bottle with plastic wrap, secored with a rubber band. Place in cool-but not cold-spot for 3 to 5 days, or until the raisins have risen to the top and the sediment has sunk to the bottom. Carefully pour off the clear amber liquid and rebottle it in the washed bottles. Refrigerate until ready to use. Although Russians drink kvas as a cold beberage, it may also be used as a cold-soup stock.
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