Christmas Bread

Ingredients

 * 5 lbs flour
 * ¼ lbs butter
 * 1 quart milk
 * 1 to 1½ cups sugar
 * 1 tbsp salt
 * 2 yeast cakes or ¼ pound yeast
 * ½ cup water or milk
 * 2 tsp vanilla extract
 * 5 large eggs

Directions

 * 1) Mix yeast, water and 1 tablespoon sugar.
 * 2) Let rise.
 * 3) Put 1 quart of milk in a pot.
 * 4) Add ½ cup sugar and ½ pound butter. Scald; don't boil.
 * 5) Take off stove to cool to lukewarm.
 * 6) Beat eggs; add remaining butter and sugar. Mix well.
 * 7) Put flour in pan. Mix well.
 * 8) Add vanilla extract, egg mixture, milk mixture, yeast and salt.
 * 9) Knead until it falls off your hands.
 * 10) The better it is mixed the better the bread will be.
 * 11) Let stand until it doubles in size.
 * 12) Punch down. Let rise again.
 * 13) Put in five or six pans and let rise again.
 * 14) Bake at 375°F for ½ an hour.
 * 15) Reduce heat to 350°F and bake about ½ hour longer.