Eleni’s Easter Tsoureki Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pkg. dry yeast

• 1 cup warm water

• 1 1/3 cups milk

• 1/4 lb. butter or margarine

• 5 eggs

• 2 1/2 cups sugar

• 1 tsp. malaheb, crushed

• 8-9 cups flour (or more)

DIRECTIONS

1. First put yeast in large Tupperware bowl, add warm water and l c. flour, mix and seal bowl.

2. In small saucepan scald milk; turn off heat, add butter. Set aside to cool.

3. Put crush mahaleb in blender, add eggs and sugar and blend until lemon colored. Blend at low speed while adding milk mixture

4. To Tupperware bowl add 6 c. flour, then add milk egg mixture. Knead and add more flour until dough is elastic but not sticky. Cover and let rise until double in bulk.

5. Push down and divide into three 2-1b. loaf pans; let rise again. Brush top with egg yolk and milk, sprinkle with sesame and bake at 325 degrees 45 minutes,

*mahaleb is purchased at greek grocery store.