Easter Braid
["6 to 7 c. flour", "5 Tbsp. sugar", "2 tsp. salt", "3/4 c. shortening", "8 oz. candied fruit", "1 c. pitted dates (cut-up)", "1 c. black walnuts (cut-up)", "Grated peel of 1 orange", "2 pkg. active dry yeast", "3 Tbsp. sugar (for yeast cups)", "6 Tbsp. lukewarm water", "Pink, Yellow, and Green food coloring", "2 c. lukewarm milk"]
["Mix flour, salt, 5 Tbsp. sugar, & shortening together.", "Add fruit, dates, nuts, and orange peel.", "Divide the fruit ingredients into 3 equal portions in separate bowls.", "Divide yeast equally into 3 cups.", "Add 1 Tbsp. sugar into each yeast cup. Add 2 Tbsp. lukewarm water to each yeast cup to soften the yeast.", "Add a few drops of 1 food coloring to each of the yeast cups.", "In each yeast cup, add 1 Tbsp. flour to make a batter.", "Divide lukewarm milk into 3 equal parts.", "To each 1/3 fruit mixture, add 1 cup of yeast mixture and 1 portion of lukewarm milk.", "Knead until well mixed and a soft dough is formed.", "Grease bowls and dough.", "Let rise in warm place until doubled in size.", "Punch down & let rise again. divide each bowl of dough into 3 equal portions.", "Roll each portion into ropes;", "about 9 inches long.", "Then braid (1 piece of each color) forming a loaf.", "Place in greased loaf pans, allowing bread to double in size.", "Bake in 350\u00b0F. oven for about 25 to 30 minutes."]
["flour", "sugar", "salt", "shortening", "candied fruit", "dates", "black walnuts", "orange", "active dry yeast", "sugar", "water", "coloring", "milk"]