Kosuniak Easter Bread

Ingredients

 * 10 full cups all purpose flour (about 3 1/2 lbs.)
 * 2 cups milk
 * 2 cups sugar
 * Rind of 1 lemon
 * 1/2 lb. butter melted (reserve 4 tbsp.)
 * 4 tsp. sugar
 * 1 1/2 cups warm water
 * 4 pkg. dry yeast
 * 6 eggs, well beaten
 * (1 cup flour) PLUS (2 cups flour) for kneading
 * 1 egg beaten, for topping
 * Sesame seeds for topping

Directions

 * 1) Heat oven to 200 F. and shut off.
 * 2) Measure 10 cups flour in a large shallow pan; push to sides to leave a hole in centre. In a small saucepan mix 2 cups milk, 2 cups sugar and lemon rind. Warm to melt sugar.
 * 3) In a large bowl, prepare yeast by mixing 4 tsp. sugar with 1 1/2 cups warm water, sprinkle yeast on top, cover and set aside.
 * 4) Add butter to milk mixture, stir. Beat eggs with electric mixer for 2 minutes, add to milk mixture and stir.
 * 5) Begin to mix dough by pouring 1/2 of milk mixture into the centre of the flour, bringing in flour from all sides by hand; continue adding remaining liquid. Stir yeast and add to dough, mixing with hand as before. Keep dough soft, use both hands and add about 1 cup flour. Knead slightly and turn out on heavily floured table. Knead for about 10 minutes, then cut slashes with a knife in several places (this allows more air to get in dough.) Add about 2 cups more of flour, kneading as you work. #Cut through twice more while kneading about 5 minutes longer. Total kneading time is about 10 to 15 minutes.
 * 6) Use 4 Tablespoons reserved butter when called for hereafter. Lightly grease a warm roasting pan with butter. Lightly grease a clean table top and turn dough once so that all is lightly covered with butter. Place greased dough in pan; butter top with fingertips, so that no crust will form. Cover with cloth and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours in warmed oven.
 * 7) Butter 4 loaf pans. Turn dough onto buttered table and cut into 12 equal strips, 3 at a time, about 9 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Twirl slightly, braid and tuck ends under and place in loaf pans. Pat evenly on top and touch with butter. Cover and let rise 1 hour until double in bulk in oven.
 * 8) Remove from oven and heat oven to 300 F. Beat 1 egg and brush loaves; sprinkle with sesame seeds, bake for 1 hour.
 * 9) Loaves should be light brown on bottom, and deep brown on top. When making a double recipe divide into two parts after mixing together all ingredients and before kneading to make baking easier.