Potato Loaf Recipe

How to make it

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• Mash the hot, unseasoned potatoes and add the butter or margarine, sugar, and salt. Pour in the scalded milk, and stir to blend ingredients and melt the butter. Cool to lukewarm. Now dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water and stir into the potato-milk mixture. Stir in 3 cups of the flour and beat until smooth. Gradually blend in the rest of the flour to make a medium dough. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured breadboard. Knead for 5 to 7 minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic. Place in a buttered bowl, brush top of dough with melted butter or oil, cover the bowl and let rise until doubled. When dough has doubled, punch it down and turnout onto a floured breadboard again. Divide dough into 2 parts. Cover with the towel again and let rest for 10 minutes. Then mold and shape the dough, with the hands, into 2 loaves. Place in 2 buttered loaf pans. Cover and let rise until double again. Brush with beaten egg white glaze (p. 348 ) and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake in a 400°F oven for 10 minutes and then reduce heat to 350°F and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes.
• Braided Potato Loaf
• To make the loaf into braids, as suggested in the title, but the dough, after the first rising period, into 2 parts. Cut one part into 3 equal pieces and roll out into strips about 18 inches long. Braid these 3 strips together, tucking the ends under. Place on a lightly buttered cookie sheet. Now divide 2/3 of the remaining part into 3 equal pieces, roll out, and braid as above. Place this braid on top of the first braid. Now, take the remaining piece of dough and roll it out, twist it, like a curlicue, and place this twisted strip of dough on top of the uppermost braid. If you think it necessary, seal the ends with a very little water. Carefully cover the braided loaf, being careful not to disarrange the braids, and let rise until completely doubled. You must not cheat by even 5 or 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F and bake until bread is well browned and done, approximately 45 to 50 minutes longer.
• Note: this bread also makes delicious, and very attractive, rolls. Cut or shape into whatever shapes you desire, brush with egg white glaze and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds. When rolls are doubled, bake them at 400°F for about 20 minutes.