1. Heat 2 cups whole milk, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 stick butter (Imperial) and 1 well rounded tablespoon Crisco. Cool until warm (not hot).

2. Put 1/3 cup warm water into bowl. Add 1 teaspoon sugar, sprinkle 3 packages dry yeast over water and let it rise until bubbly, about 10 minutes, add enough flour to make a thick dough and let rise for 10-15 minutes.

3. Sift 6 cups flour into large bowl or 8-10 quart pot, add milk mixture, 4 well beaten eggs, yeast mixture, add up to 1 more cup flour if dough is too sticky, work by hand with up and down motion about 15 minutes until dough is fairly smooth and shiney. Sprinkle with flour and cover bowl with aluminum foil, until rises for 2 hours. Keep out of drafts, fans, etc.

Put on board and divide into 3 parts. Take each piece and pull it to about a 10 inch circle and sprinkle with raisins about 1/2 cup roll up and shape into a rope about 10 inches, 3 ropes out of each ball. Braid and put into a well greased pan. Brush top with beaten egg. Make 3 loaves. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until brown. Cool on racks.