Garden of Friendship

Portuguese 5 Egg Easter Bread Submitted by: Merribuck
4 cups milk 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 pound lard 3 packages dry yeast 5 pounds flour 1/2 cup warm water	12 eggs 4 cups sugar 1 lemon, zested eggwash 5 eggs for top of each bread (optional)
In a saucepan combine milk, salt and lard and bring to a boil. Set aside. In a small bowl combine yeast, 1 cup of the flour and 1/2 cup warm water and set aside. In a large bowl with a whisk combine eggs, sugar and lemon zest and mix thoroughly. Add milk mixture, yeast mixture, and remaining flour and thoroughly combine. Set aside to rise, kneading 6 times every 1/2-hour. Bread will take 6 hours to rise. Prepare 5 round loaf pans with butter or lard. Divide dough between pans (pans should be half-full). Knead bread and let it rise again until it reaches the top of the pan. Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush with beaten egg and bake for 1 hour, until golden brown. Note: If you choose to add the 5 eggs for Easter, place eggs on top of bread dough during final rising.

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