Dad's Sweet Loaf of Bread

By Tingrin3

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup luke warm water
• 2 pkgs. active dry yeast
• 1 cup plus 1/2 teasp. sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 lb butter
• 1 teasp. salt
• 5 1/4-6 cups flour
• 4 eggs lightly beaten (at room temp.)
• Grease 2-9 x 5" loaf pans

Preparation

Step 1

In a lagre bowl, combine water, yeast and 1 teasp. sugar. Stir until dissolved and set aside for 10 mins. Heat milk and butter until lukewarm (butter does not need to melt).
Add 1 cup sugar, salt and 2 cups flour to yeast mixture. Gradually add milk to dry ingredients and beat at low speed until moistened. Reserve 2 Tbsp. beaten eggs for brushing.

Add remaining eggs and 3/4 cup flour to make soft dough.
Knead on floured board for 10 mins. Add enough flour to keep from sticking.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease all sides of dough. Cover with towel until doubled-1 1/2 hrs.

Punch down and turn on floured board and cut in half. Knead each 4-5 times to remove air. Press each into a round ball and place in pans.

Brush each with beaten egg plus 1 Tbsp. water. With sharp knife slice each
top of loaves 3/4 inch deep. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled about 2 hours.

Preheat oven 350 degrees and bake 35-40 mins. Bread should sound hollow when tgapped with fingers. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.