Onion Twist Bread (Recipe)

Ingredients

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (105c to 115c)
4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup melted margarine or butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup hot water (120c to 130c)
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling:
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon sesame seed
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon paprika

Steps

1. To make the dough: In a mixing bowl, stir yeast into the warm water.  Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes.

2. Stir in 2 cups of the flour, the melted margarine or butter, milk, hot water, sugar, beaten egg and salt.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened; beat for 2 minutes more on medium speed.  Stir in 2 cups add additional flour.

3. On a floured surface, knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough (5 to 8 minutes).  Place in a greased bowl.  Turn the dough once to grease the surface.  Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

4. To make the filling: Cook and stir the onion in the 1/4 cup margarine or butter until the onion is tender but not brown.  Stir in Parmesan cheese, sesame and poppy seeds, garlic salt and paprika.  Set aside.

5. Punch down the dough.  If necessary, coat the dough lightly with flour until it is no longer sticky.  Roll the dough into a 16x9-inch rectangle.  Cut in lengthwise into 3 strips, each 16x4 inches. 

6. Spread the filling down the center of each strip.  Pull the dough up and around the filling.  Carefully seal the edges and ends and transfer the filled strips to a greased baking sheet, placing them about 1 inch apart.  (Because this a long loaf, place the strips diagonally on the baking sheet.)

7. Gently pull the strips, stretching until each measures about 18 inches in length.  Staring in the middle, loosely braid by bringing the left strip underneath the center strip; lay it down.  Then bring the right strip under the new center strip; lay it down.  Repeat to the end, keeping the seams inside the braid when possible.  Press the ends together.  

8. On the other end, loosely braid from the middle of the loaf by bringing the outside strips alternately over the center strip.  Press the ends together.

9. Cover and let the braid rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in size.  Preheat the oven to 350c.  Bake in the 350c oven about 40 minutes or until golden brown.