Portuguese Sweet Bread

–Pauline Sylvester

• 4 pkg. yeast
• Water
• 5 lb. flour
• 3 cups sugar
• 2 Tbsp. salt
• 11 eggs
• 1/2 can cream
• 3 blocks margarine
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tsp. lemon extract
• 2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. yellow food coloring
• Crisco

Have all ingredients at room temperature. Put yeast in small bowl with 1 cup lukewarm water and 1 Tbsp. sugar; stir, cover, and let stand. Put flour, salt, and remaining sugar in large bowl. Make a well and add mixture of 10 beaten eggs, cream, soft margarine, extracts, nutmeg, and coloring. Add yeast and mix until well blended. Add 3 cups lukewarm water, 1 cup at a time. Knead for about 20 minutes, until well mixed and bowl is clean. Brush bowl with Crisco so dough won’t stick to sides.

Cover bowl and keep in a warm place. Let dough rise until almost double in size, then fold over and let rise again to double in size. Loaf in pans and let rise. When ready to bake, brush loaves with well-beaten egg. Bake for 45 minutes at 300°.