Instructions: Combine yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 cup of lukewarm water. Let stand until the mixture gets foamy. Add 1/2 cup milk and 1 cup flour. Mix well, so dough resembles pancake batter. Cover and leave in warm place to rise, about 40 minutes.

Add the eggs, salt, vanilla extract, melted butter, and sugar. Mix well. Add 2-1/2 to 3 cups more of flour to mixture, making it quite heavy. Mix well and knead until smooth. Let rise.

Make cheese topping. Mix together the dry cottage cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour the salt and 1 egg. Mix well.

After dough rises, put into a greased pan and top with cottage cheese mixture. Let rise 30 minutes. Before placing in oven, brush the top of the cheese mixture with the remaining beaten egg.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.

Mary Says: This is a
*must* on Christmas Eve. It is delicious and beautiful, as well.

Serving Ideas : Great as a breakfast bread or as a dessert.

NOTES : I have simplified this recipe by using a food processor. I proof the year with the sugar and lukewarm water. Then I add all the other bread ingredients to the workbowl with the yeast mixture. I process until well mixed, adding flour until the dough forms a ball and cleans the sides of the workbowl. I then let it rise in a bowl, punch down and form into a loaf, then place it in a greased pan. Add the cheese topping and proceed to the end of the recipe.

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