Portuguese Sweet Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

6 eggs
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
7 to 8 c. bread flour (King Arthur)
1/4 lb. butter
3/4 c. warm milk
2 yeast cakes or pkg.
1 1/4 c. water
anise (optional)

Preparation

Beat 6 eggs; reserve about 1 tablespoon to brush on top of the bread.
Add 1 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
Pour this mixture into a \"well\" you've made in 7 to 8 cups bread flour such as King Arthur's.
Melt 1/4 pound butter in 3/4 cup warm milk and dissolve 2 yeast cakes or packages in 1/4 cup water.
Mix it all together; add anise if desired, then knead your dough for 15 minutes until it is quite dry and elastic.
Add more warm milk or flour as needed.
After two risings, form the dough into 2 loaves in greased cake pans.
When double, slit top with a sharp knife and brush with reserved beaten eggs.
Bake in a slow oven at 300\u00b0 to 350\u00b0 about 30 minutes until the bread sounds hollow when you rap it.