Christmas Bread

Ingredients

 * 5 lbs flour
 * 1/4 lbs butter
 * 1 quart milk
 * 1 To 1.½ cups Sugar
 * 1 tbsp salt
 * 2 yeast cakes or ¼ pound yeast
 * 1/2 cup water or milk
 * 2 tsp vanilla extract
 * 5 large eggs

Directions

 * 1) Mix yeast, water and 1 tablespoon Sugar.


 * 1) Let rise.


 * 1) Put 1 quart of milk in a pot.


 * 1) Add ½ cup Sugar and ½ pound butter.


 * 1) Scald; don't boil.


 * 1) Take off stove to cool to lukewarm.


 * 1) Beat eggs; add remaining butter and Sugar.


 * 1) Mix well. Put flour in pan. Mix well.


 * 1) Add vanilla extract, egg mixture, milk mixture, yeast and salt.


 * 1) Knead until it falls off your hands.


 * 1) The better it is mixed the better the bread will be.


 * 1) Let stand until it doubles in size.


 * 1) Punch down. Let rise again.


 * 1) Put in five or six pans and let rise again.


 * 1) Bake at 375 °F for ½ an hour.


 * 1) Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake about ½ hour longer.