Stollen - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 containers (4 oz. each) mixed candied fruits
1/2 c. seedless raisins
2 envelopes dry yeast
3/4 c. plus 1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter or regular oleo, softened
3 eggs
1 c. blanched almonds, coarsely chopped
1/2 stick butter or oleo, melted
1 (4 oz.) container candied cherries
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cardamon
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
3/4 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. rum flavoring
8 c. all-purpose flour

Preparation

Combine fruits and nuts in bowl and dredge with 1/4 cup flour. Heat milk in small saucepan (or in microwave bowl in microwave oven) until very warm, not hot.
Pour into large bowl.
Sprinkle yeast and the 1/2 teaspoon sugar into milk.
Stir to dissolve; let stand until bubbly, about 10 minutes.
Stir in remaining sugar, softened shortening, eggs, salt, cardamon, lemon rind, almond and rum flavorings and 3 cups of the flour.
Beat until smooth.
Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough.
Turn out onto a floured surface.
Knead until smooth and elastic, about 15 minutes, using only as much additional flour as needed to keep dough from sticking.