Portuguese Sweet Bread
Ingredients
2 packets yeast
(not rapid rise)
1/2 cup warm potato water *
1 3/4 cup plus 3 Tbsp sugar
1 cup mashed potato
1/8 Tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup milk
2 Tsp salt
4 eggs
1/2 cup butter-melted
8-10 cups flour
Directions
* Boil a potato for mashing and keep the water warm for use as the potato water.
Dissolve the yeast in the potato water.
Stir in the 3 Tbsp sugar,mashed potato and ginger.
Cover, and place in a warm, draft free area until it has doubled in size.
Scald the milk, add the salt,then let it cool to lukewarm.
Begin beating the eggs and gradually add the remaining 1 3/4 cup sugar then stir it into the yeast mixture.
Pour in the melted butter and mix well.
Stir in 2 cups of the flour and then add the milk.
Add 2 more cups flour and beat well for 5 minutes.
Stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a stiff dough.
Knead on a floured surfce,adding enough of the remaining flour as needed,until the dough is smooth and elastic--about 8-10 minutes.
Place in a large oiled dish,turning once to coat the dough.
Cover and let rise again until double in size.
Divide dough into four equal portions and place either in oiled loaf pans or round pans.
Cover and let rise once more then bake at 325 for approx. 45 minutes.
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