County Fair Bread

• all-purpose flour or 5 cups unbleached hard-wheat flour↗5 cups
• granulated sugar↗1⁄4 cup
• salt↗2 teaspoons
• active dry yeast↗1 package
• milk↗1 1⁄2 cups
• butter↗1⁄4 cup
• eggs↗2
• egg white1

  lightly beaten with

• water↗1 tablespoon
• sesame seeds↗

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   In a large mixing bowl combine 1 cup of the flour, sugar, salt, and dry yeast.

2. 2

   Heat the milk and butter in a pan just until the milk is warm.

3. 3

   The butter does not need to melt.

4. 4

   Add the eggs and the warm milk mixture to the flour mixture.

5. 5

   Mix very well until thoroughly moistened, and beat with a wooden spoon for about 5 minutes.

6. 6

   Stir in the remaining flour to form a stiff dough.

7. 7

   Turn out on a floured board, and knead the dough until it is quite smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

8. 8

   Work into a ball, place in a buttered bowl, and turn to coat with butter on all sides.

9. 9

   Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until light and doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hrs.

10. 10

    Punch the dough down and divide into six equal portions.

11. 11

    Roll each of these portions into a thin cylinder about 8 to 10 inches long.

12. 12

    Take three strips and braid them together.

13. 13

    Place the braid on a baking sheet, which should be buttered or sprinkled with cornmeal.

14. 14

    Braid the remaining three strips and place about six inches away from the other loaf.

15. 15

    For a more spectacular loaf, make a braid of three large strips and then a braid of three smaller strips, and put one on top of the other.

16. 16

    Cover the loaves and let rise in a warm, draft-free space until doubled in bulk, which will take another 1 1/2 hrs.

17. 17

    Brush with the egg white and water, sprinkle lavishly with sesame seeds.

18. 18

    If you've made two smaller loaves, bake in a preheated 375 F oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.

19. 19

    The single, larger loaf will need a good hour in the oven.