Christmas Bread (jule Kaga)

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 10 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon yeast, plus
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 cups scaled milk
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 -2 tablespoon cardamom
• 1/2 cup plumped raisins
• 1/2 cup candied cherry
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Recipe

• 1 plump raisins by placing them in a microwavable container adding 1 c water for 3 minutes.
• 2 dissolve yeast in 1/2 c warm water, set to the side. mix together shortening, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, cardamom. add in proofed yeast mixture and slowly add flour and reserve about 1/2 cup. if using kitchen aid with dough hook, mix for 5 minutes, if not, knead by hand for 3 minutes. chop cherries, raisins and nuts mixed with the remaining flour and then work into bread.
• 3 place in a large greased bowl and let raise for one hour in a warm area. punch down bread and place into greased bread pans - should make 3 large loaves or 4 medium. let raise one hour.
• 4 preheat oven to 325. cook bread for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.