Easter-Egg Bread

Photo: flickr user jebb

Ingredients

cup Sugar

1 teaspoon Salt

1 pkt Active dry yeast

cup All-purpose flour

2 tablespoons Butter

cup Milk

9 Eggs

2 tablespoons Grated lemon peel

Easter-egg coloring kit

1 teaspoon Water

Preparation

In bowl, mix sugar, salt, yeast, and 1 cup flour. Heat butter and milk until very warm(125F.). With mixer at low speed, beat liquid into dry ingredients. At medium, beat 2 minutes. Beat in 2 eggs, 1 egg white, and 3/4 cup flour; beat 2 minutes. Stir in lemon peel and 1 1/4 cups flour.

On floured surface, knead dough about 5 minutes, working in about 1/2 cup flour; place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, dye 6 eggs your favorite colors, following label directions from Easter-egg coloring kit, but do not hard-cook eggs; set aside.

Punch down dough; turn onto floured surface; cover for 25 minutes.

Grease large cookie sheet. Cut dough in half; form each half into a 30-inch long rope. On cookie sheet, twist ropes together to form ring, leaving holes for 5 eggs. Cover; let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours

Preheat oven to 350F. Insert raw, colored eggs into holes in twist; place 1 egg in center. In cup, beat egg yolk with water; use to brush dough. Bake 30 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire rack.

Yields 1 loaf.