Instructions: Makes 2 loaves

Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl. Stir in milk, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, 3 eggs, margarine and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

Place in greased bowl. Turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.) Punch down dough and divide into halves. Shape each half into round, slightly flat loaf. Place each loaf in greased round 9x1 1/2-inch layer cake pan. Cover and let rise until double, about 1 hour.

Heat oven to 350F. Beat 1 egg slightly and brush over loaves. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Bake until loaves are golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes.

SNAIL LOAVES (CARACOIS): After dividing dough into halves, roll each half into a rope about 25x1 1/2-inches. Coil each to form a snail shape in greased round 9-inch layer cake pan. Proceed as directed.

NOTES : Up and down the northeastern seaboard of the United States are fans of this melt-in-your-mouth Portuguese bread.

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