Portuguese (Hawaiian) Sweet Bread (Pao Doce)
This is very similar to King’s Hawiian Bread.
2 medium potatoes, about 1/2 pound
(1 cup reserved mashed potatoes)
7 to 8 cups all-purpose flour (divided use)
3 envelopes (6 3/4 tsp) active dry yeast
2 teaspoons table salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups granulated sugar (divided use)
(1/2 cup reserved potato water)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
7 eggs (divided use)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon water
Cover the well-scrubbed potatoes with unsalted water
and boil until tender. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of
potato water. Peel and mash the potatos; measure 1 cup
of the mashed potatoes and reserve.
In the large bowl of an electric mixer stir together
2 cups of the flour with undissolved yeast, salt, ginger
and 4 tablespoons sugar.
Heat the reserved 1/2 cup potato water with the milk
and butter until very hot (130 degrees F.); butter does not
need to melt. Add to the yeast mixture. At medium speed,
beat for 2 minutes.
In a medium bowl with a clean beater, beat 6 of the eggs
until thickened and lemon color; gradually beat in
1 3/4 cups sugar until thick and ivory color. Add to the
batter with the reserved 1 cup of mashed potatoes and
1/2 cup more flour; at medium speed, beat for 2 minutes.
Gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to make
a soft dough.
Turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead about
10 minutes, adding only enough flour to prevent sticking.
Place in a large buttered bowl; turn to grease top; cover
and let rise in a warm draft-free place (about 80 degrees F)
until doubled - about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Punch down.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into
four equal pieces. Shape into round loaves and place well
apart on buttered cookie sheets. Let rise as before until
doubled – about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Slightly beat the remaining egg with 1/4 teaspoon water and
brush over loaves. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven
until golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Makes 4 round loaves.
Source: Cecily Brownstone, Assosiated Press Food Editor;
Washington, PA - Observer-Reporter newspaper, Jan 18, 1978