Plaited bread in 5 easy steps

I was craving freshly baked bread so I decided to bake some and I mean who can resist freshly baked bread??? Especially in the colder months where we need a little comfort food haha .

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• spices : cayenne pepper , white pepper , aniseed
• 1 tablespoon melted salted butter
• 1 packet active dry yeast
• 1 cup luke warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar

~this is what whole aniseed looks like, in case you don't know~

Step 1 :

Mix together the water sugar yeast melted butter spices and salt stir really well.Slowly start adding 2 cups flour mixing it until its a smooth texture , then add the remaining flour .Move the dough onto a floured surface and start kneading the dough for about 3 minutes.

Step 2:

place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and place it in a larger bowl filled with boiling hot water , cover and let it steam ,set aside until its doubled in size ,a draft free place works perfectly .

Step 3:

after its raised place it on a floured surface and punch down  for about 3 minutes separate the dough into 3 balls .

Step 4:

roll the ball of dough between your hands to create 3 ropes

Step 5: 

Now is the fun part pinch the one end and start braiding the dough , place it on a greased baking tray and let it rise again be sure to cover it with a clean cloth., about 50 minutes into the second raising time Preheat your oven  and once its raised enough lightly brush egg over it and bake it for +/-40 mins.