VASILOPETA (GREEK NEW YEAR'S BREAD)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water, add milk and salt.
• Stir in 3 C flour, batter will be lumpy.
• Let rise in a warm place about 90 minutes till double in volume.
• Mix in sugar, eggs, yolks, butter and lemon peel.
• Stir in enough flour to make a soft dough (7-8C).
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 5- 10 minutes till smooth and elastic.
• Shape into a ball and place in large greased bowl,turning to bring greased side up.
• Cover and let rise till doubled, about 60-70 minutes.
• Punch down dough and knead 1-2 minutes; let rest 10 minutes.
• Grease 2 bread pans.
• Cut dough into 2 equal pieces.
• Cut one piece into 3 equal pieces and roll each into a 15 inch cylinder.
• Braid the 3 cylinders, pinching the ends to seal.
• Tuck ends under and place in prepared pan.
• Repeat with remaining half of dough.
• Cover loaves and let rise till double in volume, about45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350, brush top of loaves with beaten egg, and bake 45- 50 minutes till bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
• If bread seems to be getting too brown after 20 minutes or so, cover them loosely with foil.
• Remove from oven and cool on wire racks 5 minutes.
• Remove loaves from pans and cool completely.