Houska Christmas Bread

Ingredients

• 2 pkg dry yeast
• 1 c milk
• 14 c seedless white raisins
• 1 c quartered candied cherries
• 12 c chopped almonds
• 12 c chopped pecans
• 12 c lukewarm water
• 12 c butter
• 34 c sugar
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1 tsp salt
• 5 12 c flour

Directions

1. Dissolve
2. yeast
3. in lukewarm water
4. Scald milk and add butter
5. sugar
6. and
7. salt
8. Cool
9. to
10. lukewarm
11. Add
12. to yeast mixture and well beaten eggs 3 cups flour raisins cherries almonds
13. and
14. pecans
15. Mix
16. well
17. Add about 2 12 cups flour Place
18. on
19. lightly
20. floured
21. surface
22. and knead until dough is smooth
23. Place
24. in a warm bowl
25. Cover with towel and let rise for about
26. 1
27. 12
28. hours
29. Punch
30. down
31. dough and turn out on floured surface
32. Divide dough in half
33. Divide one half into 3
34. equal parts
35. Roll each piece into a strip about 15 inches long
36. Braid and
37. place on a baking sheet
38. Divide 23 of the remaining
39. dough into 3 equal parts and prepare braid like the first
40. Place
41. on top of first braid
42. Make a third braid from remaining
43. dough
44. and place
45. on top of second center braid Brush with butter
46. Let rise until double in bulk
47. Beat 1 egg white
48. and
49. 1
50. tablespoon water brush loaf
51. Bake at 350 for about 35 to 45 minutes or until done