Jircitano Easter Raisin Bread

Total Time: 12 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 12 hrs Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1 quart egg (extra large eggs are approx. 2 oz. each)
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon anise extract
• 3/4 lb softened butter, very soft to melted but not hot
• 1 1/2 ounces active dry yeast (standard packets are 1/4 oz)
• 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 5 lbs flour
• 2 1/2 cups instant potato flakes
• 2 ounces anise seed
• 2 lbs raisins

Recipe

• 1 combine first 8 ingredients in a bowl.
• 2 combine next 3 ingredients in a separate bowl.
• 3 put them together, knead the bugger out of it (about 20 minutes).
• 4 let it rest, and go rest yerself. let it double in a warm place.
• 5 add the raisins. knead a little, mixing in the raisins, then shape into loaves. (the full recipe makes 8 large or 16 small braided loaves).
• 6 let the loaves rise, covered, until doubled.
• 7 bake at 325f for 30 minutes.