Rosinenzopf (raisin Bread)

Wash the raisins with warm water and blot dry. Stir dry yeast and 1 Tbs. of the measured sugar into the milk, and let rest for 10 minutes. Mix the flour with the rest of the sugar. When yeast has proven (looks foamy) add it to the flour, and add the melted butter and raisins. Knead dough. Cover dough with 1 tbs. oil, put plastic wrap over the bowl, and place into a pan with hot water. Let rest for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes turn dough over and let rest for additional 20 minutes. Punch the dough down, take 1/3 of dough and set aside. Form 3 strings each about 14 inches long, braid, and pinch ends together. Put on a non-stick cookie sheet or use greased parchment paper. Moisten the center of the braid with a little bit of water, this will make the next braid stick to the first one. Take the remaining dough, form an additional 14 inch braid and put on top of the first one. Pinch end of both braids together. Beat 2 eggyolks, and brush braid with it. Cover braid with a deep baking pan and a towel on top of this, and put on top of a baking pan filled with hot water. Let rest for 40 minutes. Preheat oven to 350F. Remove towel and baking pans, and put into oven. Bake in the middle to upper middle in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Bread will become darkbrown on top but should be light brown on the bottom. Remove bread from cookie sheet and put on cooling rack after removing from oven. Bread will taste best the next day with butter on it. Variation: Leave out the raisins, but add 1 tbs. sugar to the dough.