Portuguese Sweet Bread IV Recipe

Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles. Mix in the butter and shortening; stir until melted. Place sugar in a very large bowl pour milk over sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Let cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl stir yeast into warm water.

Stir 12 eggs and yeast mixture into milk and sugar; beat well. Pour all of the flour into the milk/eggs/sugar mixture; stir well to combine. When the dough has pulled together turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic; about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume about 1 hour. Deflate dough and let rise again until doubled about 45 minutes.

Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into six equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume about 40 minutes. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

In a small bowl beat together 1 egg and 2 tablespoons water and brush on the risen loaves. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until bottom of loaves sound hollow when tapped.