Braided Bread

By chelyc13

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 teas salt
• 1 cup hot milk
• 4 large eggs, divided
• 2 envelopes active dry yeast (.25oz each)
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

Preparation

Step 1

1. Place the sugar, shortening, and salt in large bowl. Add the hot milk, stir to soften the shortening, and then cool. Beat in 2 of the eggs. In a small bowl dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water. Stir the yeast mixture into the shortening mixture. Add 4 cups of the flour and beat until smooth. Add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough.

2. Turn the dough out on a floured work surfacea dn knead it by hand until smooth, 8 to 10 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the surface of the dough. Cover the dough with a dish towel and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Punch the dough downa nd let it rest for 10 minutes.

3. Divide the dough into 6 pieces. Roll each into a rope 15 inches long. Place the ropes on a greased cookie sheet and shape into 2 braids, using 3 ropes for each. Let the braided dough rise until it doubles in size, 45 to 60 minutes.

4. Brush the tops of the loaves with the whites from the remaining 2 egg - do not beat the egg whties.

5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees bake for 20 to 25 minutes.