Swedish Brown Bread

Photo: flickr user suzukiQ

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup Grandma's molasses

1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel

2/3 cup shortening

1/2 teaspoon cardamom (if desired)

2 yeast cakes

1/2 cup warm water (to dissolve yeast)

2 egg yolks

4 cups warm water

15 cups flour (mix in 14 cup - reserving 1 cup for kneading)

1/2 cup raisins (if desired)

Preparation

In large bowl put 4 cups warm water, melted shortening, sugars and salt, molasses and peel. Add the yeast dissolved in the 1/2 cup warm water. Add egg yolks and blend. Mix in the 14 cups flour. Turn on well floured board and knead very well with 1 cup flour. Put in warm place and let rise until double. Bake in preheated oven, 350 degrees, for 55 minutes. Upon removing from the oven rub the crust with butter and let