Perruso's Italian Easter Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 4 1/2-6 cups unbleached flour
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages dry active yeast
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup crisco shortening
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon, rind of, grated
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon milk
• 9 large eggs
• 6 eggs, dye, uncooked and set aside to dry

Recipe

• 1 soften yeast in 1/2 cup warm water for around 5-8 minutes.
• 2 meanwhile blend 1&1/2 cups of flour with remaining warm water in a large mixing bowl.
• 3 mix well.
• 4 add yeast mixture.
• 5 mix until fairly smooth.
• 6 cover bowl with a dish towel and let sit in a warm area until dough mixture has risen, about 1 hour.
• 7 after about 30 minutes, in a medium sized bowl, mix shortening with lemon juice and grated lemon peel.
• 8 mix together sugar and salt, then add half to shortening, creaming until fluffy.
• 9 add remaining sugar-salt mixture stirring well.
• 10 beat two eggs and one egg until piled softly.
• 11 add beaten eggs, in thirds, to shortening/sugar mixture and mix well.
• 12 add 2&1/2 cups of flour to yeast mixture and mix until smooth.
• 13 continue to add flour, a little at a time, mixing until dough holds together in a kneadable ball.
• 14 turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and continue to work in flour, kneading 8-10 minutes.
• 15 the amount of flour needed will vary, depending on humidity.
• 16 grease a large bowl with vegetable oil.
• 17 put in dough, turning to coat.
• 18 cover with a dish towel and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled, around 1&1/2 hours.
• 19 punch down risen dough and divide into two balls.
• 20 let stand covered for 10 minutes.
• 21 roll each ball into a long roll about 30 inches.
• 22 then "braid or twist" rolls together, making a wreath and pinch ends together.
• 23 place on a cookie sheet or baking pan.
• 24 gently, and at even intervals, bury the colored eggs by separating strands.
• 25 cover with a dish towel and let stand for 30 minutes.
• 26 bake in a preheated 350°f oven for 10 minutes.
• 27 brush with an egg beaten with milk.
• 28 continue baking for 40 to 45 minutes.
• 29 bread should be golden brown when done, and the eggs will be baked, but just like hard boiled eggs.
• 30 serve with butter.