Braided Sweet Bread

This recipe comes from my best friend's aunt. It is a wonderful, chewy sweet bread that I can't keep my hands off of whenever I make it! Just a great, simple sweet bread recipe.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 35 mins
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup water
• 1 1⁄2 cups  warm milk
• 1  package dry yeast
• 4  tablespoons margarine, melted
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 4 1⁄2 cups flour (use more to knead)
• 1  beaten egg

Directions

1. Mix together water, warm milk, and yeast.
2. Add melted margarine, sugar, salt and flour.
3. Knead dough, place in bowl, cover and let rise in warm place 1 hour.
4. Divide dough into 6 parts.
5. Shape dough into 6 long pieces (length of baking sheet).
6. On baking sheet, braid 3 of the pieces together like you would hair, then braid remaining 3 pieces together.
7. Cover and let raise 1 more hour.
8. Brush beaten egg on top and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.