Golden Egg Braid

This bread was a lot of fun to make. Used a recipe for Braided Egg Bread and modified it for the bread machine. Moist and delicious.

• 3.5-4 c flour
• 1/3 c sugar
• 2 1/4 t yeast
• 1 t salt
• 3/4 c water (*use less b/c of extra egg, try 1/2c)
• 3 T olive oil
• 3 eggs
• Topping: 1 egg, 1 t water, parsley flakes

1. Combine non-topping ingredients in bread machine and set to dough cycle. Check on dough after 5 minutes and add flour or water to get the right consistency.
2. Knead dough a few times on a floured surface.
   
3. Cut off one third and set to side. With remaining dough, divide into 3 parts. Roll to 13" long. Place on greased baking sheet and braid. Tuck ends under.
4. With remaining dough, divide into 3 pieces. Roll to 14" long. Braid. Place on top of shorter, fatter braid. Pinch and tuck ends under.
5. Cover and let rise until doubled - about half an hour.
6. Mix egg with water. Brush on dough. Sprinkle with parsley.
7. Bake 190C for 10-15 min. Cover with foil and continue baking for another 15 minutes or until bread is golden and done.
8. Remove from tray to cool.

Variations

• Add another egg yolk to the dough for a more eggy taste.
• Sprinkle with poppy seeds instead of parsley.
• Fill braid ropes with filling.

Notes
3/7/10 Third time making this. Used 1/4 c sugar, 1/2 c water, 3 3/4-4 c flour. Put yolk on small bread, white on base bread. Topped with Italian seasoning. Would add a bit of coarse salt next time. Brought to Luke's and was gobbled up. Liked the ratio.

Halloween Mummy Bread

10/30/15 I used this dough to make two loaves of mummy bread. One small one filled with apple-almonds-cream cheese, and the other filled with spinach-ricotta-herbs. The first one I made was too long and skinny to really look mummy like. The next one I made much wider and wrapped the braids in different directions. Finished the breads with eyes - sliced olives on the savory one, cream cheese and raisins on the sweet one (not pictured).
Verdict: the larger (2/3 dough) one had too much filling and was undercooked. Next time divide it in half, and cover when baking. The smaller one (1/3 dough) filled with apples was perfectly cooked and tasted great!