Amish Bread

This recipe comes from one Lady Di's dearest friends, Glenna Mae.  She once gave it to me as my first bread recipe and said "You can't screw this up."  It's a classic in our home.  And every year when we make our fresh strawberry jam, we have to quickly make some Amish Bread.

In a medium bowl mix …

2 ½ cups water

4 Tbs sugar

2 Tbs butter

1 Tbs salt

… heat in microwave on high for about 1 ½ minutes

cool 125–130 degrees (using thermometer)

6+ cups of bread flour

2 pkgs (or 4 ½ tsp) of rapid rise yeast

Add flour to the liquid cup by cup & stir with electric beater.  Add yeast.  Gradually add rest of flour till dough pulls away – needs about 5 minutes on beaters, or hand knead if you prefer.  Grease bowl and dump it in.  Put in oven with no light to help the dough rise. 

Let rise 8 minutes and punch it down.  Repeat this 4 times total. 

Divide the dough in two pieces.  Roll out on floured surface with rolling pin.  Roll into a log and bend it like an arch.  Cut ½ inch deep along top of bread.  Spread egg yolk and 1 tsp milk over bread.  Place in oven and let rise 30 minutes.  Turn oven on 375 degrees and cook 20 minutes.  (Start the 20 minutes when you turn on the oven with the bread in it and not when the oven is heated)