BRAIDED BREAD

1-1/2 cup warm water
1-1/2 Tbsp. (1/2 oz.) active dry yeast
1/4 cup soft butter or shortening
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
4 cups bread flour.

METHOD;

-In large bowl, mix warm water and yeast( wait for a few minutes for it to foam at the top).
- Add butter, sugar, and salt. Stir. Add 3 cups of bread flour and mix well.
- Add in sum of the remaining bread flour to make the dough a LITTLE stiff.
-Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, (use your knucles) adding more flour as needed until the dough is firm and smooth to the touch.
-Place dough in greased bowl.
- Turn dough over in bowl so that the top is also lightly greased. Cover with clean cloth and let rise in warm, for 1 hour.
-Punch down the dough, then Turn it out onto lightly floured board and knead out bubbles (gently) for 5 minutes.
-Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Set 3 pieces aside. Roll out the remaining 3 pieces of dough between your hands, making 3 lines, equal in length. Line strips side-by-side on floured board.
- Braid strips, starting from the center and working to the end, and squeeze the bottom ends together. Braid other side of loaf, from center to end, and squeeze ends together.
- Set braided loaf on greased baking sheet and repeat steps for the remaining 3 pieces of dough.
- Cover loaves with kitchen towel and let rise in a warm, allow dough to rest for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

-Bake bread for 40 minutes or until bread top is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when the top is tapped. -Remove bread from baking sheets and let cool on rack.
 :)