Portugese Sweet Bread

2 envelopes yeast
½ cup warm water
¾ cup milk
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon. salt
½ cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
7 c. well sifted flour

Mix yeast, water and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl and let stand until bubbly.
Put sugar, salt, milk and butter in a sauce pan. Heat until butter melts. Pour in large bowl and let cool until lukewarm. Beat eggs in small bowl until frothy. Add eggs, yeast mixture, butter mixture and three cups of the flour in an extra big bowl and beat until smooth. Add remaining four cups of flour, one at a time mixing well between each. Knead for 10 minutes. Place in buttered bowl, rolling dough so all is covered with the butter. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 2-3 hours until dough has doubled or tripled. Punch down and let stand 10 minutes. Divide in 2, put in greased pans.

Let rise two hours. Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes.

--Chrissie
St. Louis, MO