BREAD - Portuguese Sweet Bread

By Aemelia

Ingredients

• 2 envelopes active dry yeast
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 2 potatoes peeled, cubed, boiled and mashed to make 1 cup mashed potatoes (save the water used to boil the potatoes)
• 1/2 cup of the lukewarm potato water that you used to boil the potatoes
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 cup each; milk, butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 6 extra-large eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 7 cups flour

Details

Adapted from lostrecipesfound.com

Preparation

Step 1

Stir yeast and 3 Tbsp sugar into potato water until dissolved. Add mashed potato and ginger. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk.
In microwave at 50% power, heat milk with butter and salt until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm.
Reserving a little beaten egg to use as egg wash later, beat remaining eggs until light. Gradually beat in 1 1/2 cups sugar. Combine yeast and egg mixures, blending well. Stir in 2 cups flour. Add milk and beat until well blended. Add two more cups flour; beat five minutes. Gradually stir in more flour until dough is stiff enough to knead.
Turn out on a floured board and knead about 10 minutes, adding only enough flour to prevent sticking. Put dough in large, oiled bowl; turn once; cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in bulk. Punch down, put on floured board and divide into four parts. Place in four 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, or, make into braids or round loaves and place on greased baking sheets. Cover lightly with plastic wrap you’ve sprayed with oil. Let rise in warm place until doubled. Mix reserved egg with 1 tsp water and brush on loaves, sprinkling with sugar if desired. Bake at 350 degrees 40 to 50 minutes, until done