Paska (easter Bread)

Total Time: 5 hrs 30 mins
Preparation Time: 5 hrs
Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast


• 1 large potato


• 2 cups flour (or more)


• 2 1/2 cups warm milk


• 7 -8 egg yolks


• 7 -8 egg whites, stiffly beaten


• 1 1/2-2 cups sugar


• 1 teaspoon lemon juice


• 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup butter


• 1 teaspoon salt


• 1/2-1 teaspoon orange zest


• bit vanilla

Recipe

• 1 peel and chop potato.


• 2 boil until tender.


• 3 drain, reserving water.


• 4 mash the potato.


• 5 soften yeast in 3/4 cup lukewarm potato water (water from cooking the potato) for 10 minutes.


• 6 add a bit of flour to make a soft sponge.


• 7 in the meantime, warm the milk.


• 8 pour it over 2 cups flour.


• 9 beat until smooth.


• 10 allow to cool slightly.


• 11 beat egg yolks with 1 cup sugar.


• 12 add warm flour mixture.


• 13 add stiffly beaten egg whites.


• 14 add yeast mixture.


• 15 cover and let rise until light.


• 16 add softened margarine, salt, remaining sugar and mashed potato (should have at least half cup mashed potato).


• 17 add enough flour to make a medium soft dough.


• 18 (it will be a bit sticky-- if too stickly add flour but be careful not to add too much flour.) knead 10 minutes.


• 19 cover and let rise to double its bulk.


• 20 shape into loaves.


• 21 (you may make braided loaves, round loaves, or oval loaves.) cover and let rise again.


• 22 bake at 325 f until golden.


• 23 be careful not to overbake.


• 24 make icing (or glaze) with powdered sugar and milk.


• 25 ice when bread is completed cooled.