Pao Doce Portuguese Sweet Bread

Boil potato until soft.

Save 1 / 4 cup of the water the potato was boiled in and cool to lukewarm.

Mash potato and measure out 1 / 2 cup.

Add 2 tbsp sugar and the yeast to the lukewarm potato water , stir to dissolve.

Stir in mashed potato and set mixture aside to double in bulk.

Scald milk , add salt and cool to lukewarm.

Melt butter and cool.

In large warm mixing bowl , beat eggs.

Remove 1 tbsp of eggs to use for brushing tops of loaves.

Gradually beat in sugar , then melted butter.

Combine egg and yeast mixtures.

Blend thoroughly.

Add 1 1 / 3 cups of the flour and 1 / 4 cup milk.

Beat until completely mixed.

Add another 1 1 / 3 cups flour and beat till blended.

Turn out the dough on floured board.

Add last 1 1 / 3 cups flour and knead dough till smooth and elastic , 75 to 100 times.

Make a ball of dough , place in an oiled bowl , cover with damp cloth , and let rise in warm place.

When double in bulk , punch down , divide dough into 2 round balls and place on 2 o.

potato, sugar, active dry yeast, milk, salt, butter, eggs, flour