1½ c milk
1 c sugar
1 t salt
1 stick butter
3-4 beaten eggs (3 jumbo)
1 t cardamom (12 seeded, peeled, and ground)
2 yeast — ½ c warm water
7 c flour

Warm milk almost to boil. Add sugar and salt; stir well. Then add butter and eggs. Pour into a large bowl and add cardamom and yeast when cool enough. Beat in part of flour w/ electric mixer, and then finish by hand (knead). Place in buttered pan, cover, and let rise. When ready, divide into 3 equal parts, and then thirds again. Braid. Let rise in buttered pans. Bake about 325° for 45 mins. If browning too fast, cover w/ brown paper bag. When baked, brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sugar (preferably pearl sugar). Return to oven to dry — oven off. Makes 3 loaves.