Garden Herb Loaf

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 ounce fast rising yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1 egg

Recipe

• 1 in large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, salt, marjoram, thyme, and rosemary.
• 2 heat milk, water, and 1/4 cup butter until very warm (120° to 130°f); stir into dry ingredients.
• 3 stir in egg and enough remaining flour to make soft dough.
• 4 knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 4 to 6 minutes.
• 5 cover; let rest on floured surface 10 minutes.
• 6 divide dough into 3 equal pieces.
• 7 roll each piece to 30-inch rope.
• 8 braid ropes; pinch ends to seal.
• 9 tie knot in center of braid; wrap ends around knot, in opposite directions, and tuck under to make round loaf.
• 10 place on greased baking sheet.
• 11 cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 20 to 40 minutes.
• 12 bake at 375°f for 30 to 35 minutes or until done, covering with foil during last 10 minutes to prevent excess browning.
• 13 melt remaining butter; brush over loaf.
• 14 if desired, sprinkle with additional marjoram, thyme, and rosemary.
• 15 remove from sheet; let cool on wire rack.