Old fashioned Portuguese Sweet Bread
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup mashed or riced potatoes
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup instant dry skim milk
- 1/4 pound butter
- 2 pkgs active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 4 1/2 to 5 cups whole wheat flour
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- grated rind of 1 lemon
- 1 cup chopped candied orange peel
- 1 egg, beaten, for glaze
- Freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
Combine potatoes, boiling water, honey, dry milk, and butter in a mixing bowl, stirring well. Let cool to lukewarm. In a small bowl proof yeast in warm water. Add to lukewarm potato mixture. Beat in 2 cups flour until mixture is smooth. Blend in eggs, salt, vanilla, grated lemon rind, and candied orange peel. Gradually add flour to form a workable dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise to double. Punch down and knead lightly. Cover, and rest 10 minutes. Divide dough in half and shape into round loaves. Place on greased baking sheets, cover and let rise to double. Before baking, brush with glaze made of beaten egg and sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.