Peacemaker's Bread

(aka Rosa's Filled Braid Bread)


Mix and let stand 5 minutes:
1/2 c. warm water
1 pkg (1 Tbls) yeast
1 1/2 tsp. sugar


Add and mix well:
1 c. warm water } or 1 c. scalded milk
1/2 c. powdered milk } rather than water and pow. milk
1/4 c. oil
3 Tbls. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 egg


Add:
2 c. flour (which is a little less than 1/2 of total flour you will use)


Slowly add enough flour to make dough thick enough to kneed. Kneed for 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary. When you finish kneeding, you should have dough that is smooth and elastic. Oil a bowl and turn dough into it to rise in a warm place. A sink of warm water or a sunny window work as well as a nice wood stove. ;-) If you prefer, you can put dough in refrigerator overnight. It should take about 1 1/2 hours to rise to double its original size. It has risen enough if, when you poke the dough, the dent does not spring back.

At this point, you have to decide what you're making. This is a good recipe for sweet breads, such as cinnamon rolls or the filled braid I made as well as a plain loaf. The cooking time will vary depending on the shape of bread you make. You should cook it at 350 degrees until it looks and smells done, which means it is a golden brown on the outside and does not smell doughy. Tapping the crust with a fingernail should result in a slightly hollow sound.

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