Portuguese 5-Egg Easter Bread

• 4 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 pound lard
• 3 packages dry yeast
• 5 pounds flour
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 12 eggs
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 lemon, zested
• Eggwash
• 5 eggs for top of each bread, optional

1. In a saucepan combine milk, salt and lard and bring to a boil.
2. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl combine yeast, 1 cup of the flour and 1/2 cup warm water and set aside.
4. In a large bowl with a whisk combine eggs, sugar and lemon zest and mix thoroughly.
5. Add milk mixture, yeast mixture, and remaining flour and thoroughly combine.
6. Set aside to rise, kneading 6 times every 1/2-hour.
7. Bread will take 6 hours to rise.
8. Prepare 5 round loaf pans with butter or lard.
9. Divide dough between pans (pans should be half-full).
10. Knead bread and let it rise again until it reaches the top of the pan.
11. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brush with beaten egg and bake for 1 hour, until golden brown.
12. Note: If you choose to add the 5 eggs for Easter, place eggs on top of bread dough during final rising.

milk, salt, lard, yeast, flour, water, eggs, sugar, lemon, eggs

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/portuguese-5-egg-easter-bread-recipe.html (may not work)