Braided Bread-Russia(Kolach)

• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 2 packages dry yeast
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 cups milk warmed to 110 F
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. oil or melted butter
• 8 cups of unbleached flour
• 1 large egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp. of water for glazing
• 2 Tbsp. poppy seeds, optional

1. Dissolve 1 tsp. sugar in the water and sprinkle the yeast over it. Add 1 Tbsp. of sugar, stir and let stand for 10 minutes. Combine the yeast with the milk, lightly beaten eggs, salt 2 Tbsp. of sugar, oil, and 2 cups of sifted flour. Beat until smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm place until light and bubbly, about 1 hour. Mix in enough flour to make a light but slightly sticky dough, then knead in bowl until smooth and elastic. Now form dough into a bowl and very lightly oil dough enough to cover the whole dough ball. Cover bowl of dough with a warm damp dish towel, lightly damp only. Let rise in warm place until it doubles in size. Punch down and allow dough to rise again slightly.

sugar, water, yeast, sugar, milk, eggs, salt, oil, flour, egg, poppy seeds

Taken from www.cookbooks.com/Recipe-Details.aspx?id=27409 (may not work)