Portuguese Sweet Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm potato water
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup mashed potatoes
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 6 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 8 -10 cups flour

Recipe

• 1 dissolve yeast in potato water. stir in the 3 tablespoons sugar, potatoes, and ginger. cover; let rise until doubled.
• 2 scald milk; add salt and cool to lukewarm.
• 3 in small bowl of electric mixer, beat eggs; gradually beat in the 1-3/4 cups sugar. stir into yeast mixture. add butter and mix well.
• 4 stir in 2 cups of the flour, then the milk. add 2 more cups of the flour; beat 5 minutes. stir in enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough.
• 5 place on lightly floured board and knead in remaining flour until dough is smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• 6 place in greased bowl, turning to grease top of dough. cover; let rise until dough is doubled.
• 7 grease four 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. punch down dough and, on a lightly floured board, divide into fourths. shape each fourth into a loaf; place in prepared pans. cover; let rise until doubled.
• 8 preheat oven to 325°f.
• 9 bake for 45 minutes or until done.