How to Bake a Braided Bread Nest

Bake a braided nest for your Easter celebration. A braided nest will hold hot rolls or baked sweets for a beautiful tasty centerpiece.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baking sheet
• Recipe for hot rolls
• Bread machine, (0ptional)
• Mixing bowl
• Boiled, colored eggs
• Serving plate

1. Place the dough ingredients into a mixing bowl or a bread machine set for mixing cycle only. Mix the dough and knead it to a smooth ball and let rise till double. In the machine it can raise after the mixing-knead cycle right in the machine.

2. 
   Making The Braid Rolls

   After the dough has risen adequately, cut the dough into 3 equal portions to make the strips for the braid. The strips will be then rolled on a floured pastry cloth until they are long enough to make the braid into the size of nest you desire. Even if the strips are skinny, remember they will rise again before baking. So don't be concerned, just make them the length you need, measure them around a bowl edge or a circle on a pastry sheet if necessary to get the length.
   
   Remember the braiding will shorten the over all size. when the three braids strands have been completed, begin the braiding of the roll with pressing the ends of the three strands together, then complete braid and form into a circle.

3. 
   Pressing The Braid Ends Together

   Press the colored boiled eggs into the circle at various places in the braided roll. The dough will rise around them to hold them in place. You might want to count the amount of people that will want an egg prior to placing them in the nest. No one will want to be left out of this nest. No empty nest here.

4. Add some egg yolk to a little milk and stir until well mixed. Then take a pastry brush and coat the nest just before baking, being careful not to cause the risen dough to fall. Use a light hand here. Bake at approximately 375 degrees for at least 20-25 minutes. Since every oven is different check often, but do check looking through the oven glass if possible. Opening the door could cause underbaked bread to fall. Bread will have a wonderful baked brown smell when it is entirely done. After removing from the oven rub some fresh butter over the top. Let cool before wrapping so the bread doesn't sweat.

Tips & Warnings

• A recipe for a large loaf of bread or pan of rolls is adequate. I like to use a recipe with milk and eggs in the batter. That is your decision for fun and taste.
• Don't overcook, and let it cool on a clean towel before wrapping if not serving immediately.

[Jolocol]

on 5/2/2009 Great recipe for Easter or any other special occasion.