How to make a large batch of Greek Easter bread, Tsoureki

This is an authentic recipe for Tsoureki, a traditional Easter braided bread with sesame seeds and decorated with red eggs. This recipe yields abut 5 or 6 large twists, and perfect for gift giving or bringing to a large group. "Kalli orexi" meaning, "good appetite!"

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 4 to 5 packages active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 call purpose flour, plus 5 lbs sifted flour, or more as needed
• 1 tablespoon plus 3 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon salt
• 12eggs, plus1 or 2 eggs, beaten for topping.
• 2 cups milk,scaleded and cooled.
• 5 sticks unsalted butter, melted.
• 1 tablespoon ground masticha flavoring (or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.)
• sesame seeds for topping.
• red dyed hard boiled eggs for decoration.

1. Mix yeast with water. Add 1/2 c flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir, and let rise in a warm place until mixture bubbles and foams, about 10 min.
2. In a very large bowl beat 12 eggs. Add 3 cups sugar, cooled milk, melted butter, and 1 tablespoon salt. Stir in yeast mixture. Blend masticha or vanilla extract with sifted flour and add to liquid to make a stiff and elastic dough. Knead well on a floured board for about 5 min. Place dough in a greased bowl; cover with a damp cloth and let rise until double in bulk. Punch down and turn over in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a damp towel and rise again until almost double in bulk. The 2nd rising should not take as long as the first.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into fifteen 12" long ropes, braid 3 at a time,and place on greased cookie sheets to rise; cover. When they have doubled in bulk, brush with beaten eggs, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Arrange 1 red egg on each braid. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.