Masa Sovada (Portuguese Sweetbread)

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

Title: Masa Sovada (Portuguese Sweetbread)
Categories: Breads, Portuguese
Yield: 6 Servings

1/4 c Water (warm for dry;
-lukewarm for compressed)
1 c Scalded milk
1 c Sugar
2 ts Cinnamon
1/2 c Butter or margarine
1/2 ts Of salt
5 1/2 To 6 cups all-purpose flour
4 Eggs
2 packages yeast (active
-dry or compressed)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Scald milk and add to sugar, butter and
salt; stir until butter is melted. Mix cinnamon and flour. Add 1/2 the
flour to the milk/sugar/butter/salt, and mix until smooth. Beat 3 eggs and
add them and the yeast to the mixture.

Continue to add remaining flour to make soft dough. Remove it from the
bowl and place on floured board. Knead until smooth and satiny (about 15
mins.). Shape into a ball and place in buttered bowl. Cover and let rise
until double in size (2-1/2 to 3 hours).

Punch risen dough down and divide it in half. Place in two greased pans (8
inches round). Let rise in warm place until double in size (1-1/2 to 2
hours). Brush tops of dough with remaining egg (beaten).

Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on
wire racks.

NOTES: I have found that if I initially heat up the oven and then turn it
off, I put the dough in there to rise and it rises twice as fast.

Also, I don't know if this violates any rules, but I've found that I prefer
this bread with raisins added.

Finally, as I mentioned to those who have gotten this recipe already, this
bread makes the best toast in the world! (Personal opinion, of course..)

Frank

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