Fairy Princess Bread (aka Pink Egg Bread)

I'm spending this week getting ready for packing school lunches. Today, I made some Fairy Princess Bread. I've got a whole magical princess lunch theme planned in my head. It includes toad stools and magic wands and crowns and princesses and such. It should be fun. Changing the color of food is something easy and fun you can do to avoid the monotony of lunch box preparation. It's easy to add a few drops of food coloring here and there. Here's my egg bread recipe. It serves me well. Oh -- and, no, the addition of the red food dye didn't alter the taste at all.

Fairy Princess Bread
makes one loaf (16 or so slices)

What You Need:

• 1 packet yeast
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 3 Tbsp melted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• food coloring if desired (about a dozen drops of red for pink bread)
• egg wash if desired, though I skipped it -- 2 beaten eggs with 1/4 cup water

How it's Done:

1. Stir together the yeast, sugar, and water. Let it stand 10 minutes.
2. Slowly beat in eggs, milk, butter, and salt. Add half of the flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes, then add the remaining flour, until a soft, cohesive dough has formed.
3. With your mixer running, add in food coloring, a few drops at a time, until desired color is reached.
4. Knead about 10 minutes. Turn dough into an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 90 minutes.
5. Punch down the dough. Cut off one-third of the dough. With the remaining dough, divide into 3 equal balls. Roll each ball into a 14" rope. Braid these three, starting at the center and braiding out on each side. Pinch ends closed.
6. With remaining 1/3 of the dough, divide into 3 equal portions and roll into 16" ropes. Braid these the same way. Place the thinner braid on top of the thicker braid. Pinch ends to seal.
7. Cover and let rise again, for about 30 minutes.
8. Brush with egg wash if desired.
9. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until loaf sounds hollow when you thump the bottom.
10. Let cool completely before slicing. This bread freezes nicely.