Christmas Bread (Jule Kaga) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

10 cups flour
1 tablespoon yeast, plus
1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1/2 cup warm water
3 cups scaled milk
3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs
1 -2 tablespoon cardamom
1/2 cup plumped raisins
1/2 cup candied cherry
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation

Plump raisins by placing them in a microwavable container adding 1 c water for 3 minutes.
Dissolve yeast in 1/2 c warm water, set to the side. Mix together shortening, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, cardamom. Add in proofed yeast mixture and slowly add flour and reserve about 1/2 cup. If using Kitchen Aid with dough hook, mix for 5 minutes, if not, knead by hand for 3 minutes. Chop cherries, raisins and nuts mixed with the remaining flour and then work into bread.
Place in a large greased bowl and let raise for one hour in a warm area. Punch down bread and place into greased bread pans - should make 3 large loaves or 4 medium. Let raise one hour.
Preheat oven to 325. Cook bread for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.