Irish Freckle Bread

Try this for Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th -- it will be a nice accompaniment to your Corned Beef & Cabbage and green beer! From the kitchen of Debbie Birk, Saint Louis MO.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 16
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 5 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 ounce fast rising yeast (2 packages)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup boiling water
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 2  eggs, slightly beaten
• 1⁄3 cup mashed potatoes
• 1  cup  chopped dates or 1  cup raisins

Directions

1. In large bowl, mix together 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
2. Bring butter and water to nearly boiling. Pour slowly over dry ingredients and mix into a dough.
3. Stir in eggs, mashed potatoes, and dried fruit. Add flour to make a soft dough.
4. Knead on floured surface 1 minute. Cover and let rest 10 minutes.
5. Cut ino 6 sections; shape into balls and place in 2 greased loaf pans (3 balls per pan); spray tops with butter or Pam; cover and let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.