1/4 cup warm water
2 1/2 tsp yeast (or one yeast packet)
1 Tbl sugar
1 cup hot water
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbl butter
2 1/2 cup flour
1 egg
1 3/4 - 2 cups MORE flour
In a drinking glass or bowl, stir together the warm water, yeast & sugar. Set aside for about 10 min to rise.
In your mixer, combine the hot water, salt, sugar and butter. Mix well. Once the yeast has risen, add 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 egg and the yeast mixture. Mix all together (using your mixing paddle arm.)
Add 1 3/4 cups more flour and mix until a ball forms. If the dough is still too soft, add more flour until the dough feels like squishy play-dough. Take the paddle arm off your mixer and put the hook arm on. Turn mixer on to the number "2" setting (if you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer) and let machine knead the dough for 7 minutes. OR knead the dough by hand for 5-6 minutes on a hard (and slightly floured) surface.
Spray a large clean bowl with cooking spray. Put the dough in the bowl and cover with a cloth to keep from drying out. Place the bowl in a warm place (like the oven with just the light turned on).
Let the dough rise for a couple of hours.
Punch the dough down and lit it rest for 10 minutes. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
Using a knife, divide the dough in half. Divide each half into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 14 inches long.
Pinch the 3 ropes together at the top, braid the ropes, and pinch the ropes together at the end.
Repeat with the other pieces of dough.
Place on sprayed cookie sheet, cover with a cloth, and let rise for about an hour.
Wisk together one egg and 1 T water. Gently brush wash over each braid.
Heat oven to 350. Bake for 14-18 minutes or just till they start turning golden brown. Let the bread sit for 5-10 minutes before cutting.
For extra yummy-ness, pour melted butter over top of the bread before cutting.
