Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbs flour or 8 -9 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup scalded milk
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water (about 105 degrees)
• 1/2 cup Crisco
• 1/2 lb butter
• 1/2 tablespoon nigella seeds (black seeds)
• 2 eggs
• 1 beaten egg
• sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water.

2. Heat milk and turn off heat. Add butter and Crisco to melt and cool milk.

3. If you have a large Kitchen Aid Mixer, add all ingredients except beaten egg and sesame seeds. If not, you will need to mix all in a large bowl and knead by hand.

4. Add enough flour to make a soft slightly sticky dough.

5. Knead 10 minutes in mixer or with oiled hands.

6. Allow to rise until double in bulk. Around 2 hours.

7. Oil hands and punch down. Pull off a hunk of dough and roll out with your hands to a long rope.

8. Slice on the diagonal in 5 inch pieces. Make sticks or circles or braid three pieces together, if desired.

9. Place on a cookie sheet an inch apart.

10. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

11. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until light brown.