Easter Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 teaspoons active dry yeast (or two envelopes)
1/4 cup warm water
3 cups milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm
7 -8 cups flour
4 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
16 cardamom pods, crushed (about 2 teaspoons)
1 orange, rind of, grated
1 lemon, rind of, grated
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped almonds (optional)
1 cup butter, melted
For optional icing
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 -3 drops almond extract

Preparation

Disolve yeast in warm water.
Add 2 cups of the milk to the yeast/water.
Sift in 2 cups of the flour.
Beat until smooth and elastic with a wooden spoon or beaters.
Cover and let rise for one hour.
Beat egg yolks and sugar together until light.
Add egg/sugar to dough, stirring well with wooden spoon.
Add the salt, cardamom, orange and lemon peel, raisins and almonds (if using), stir well.
Add the remaining milk (1 cup) and butter.
Stir in the remaining flour until a stiff dough forms.
Turn onto a floured bread board and knead until smooth and elastic (8-10 minutes).
Place dough in greased bowl (I use a dutch oven), turn and cover with plastic wrap.
Let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.
Grease 3 (1 pound) coffee cans and dust with sugar.
Fill cans half full and let rise until dough is even with top of can (30 minutes).
Bake in a preheated 350\u00b0Foven for 1 hour or until bread is golden and tests done.
If desired, loaves can be iced with optional frosting.
To make optional frosting, combine frosting ingredients (confectioners' sugar, water and almond extract).
Drizzle over cooled loaves.