Finnish Coffee Bread (12 servings) 4 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 and 1/3 cups milk - room temperature 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup butter - softened 1/4 cup luke-warm water 1/4 cup slivered almonds 2 large eggs 1 package yeast 1 teaspoon powdered cardamom 1/2 teaspoon salt This recipe makes one large loaf of bread. Add yeast to warm water, stir until dissolved. Add milk and stir. In a separate large bowl, beat one of the eggs with the sugar. Stir in the yeast mixture, salt, cardamom and one handful of the flour. Continue to add flour until you have a soft dough. Knead vigorously until thoroughly mixed. Add butter. Knead until dough no longer sticks to sides of bowl. Cover. Let rise in warm place until doubled in size (45 minutes to an hour). Punch dough down. Divide into 3 equal parts, shape each into a long strand. Braid strands to form a loaf. Cover. Let rise again until doubled in size. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat the other egg. And brush the loaf. Sprinkle almond slices evenly over loaf. Transfer loaf to a lightly greased (and sprinkled with flour) heavy-duty sheet pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown. As the name implies, this is a gourmet bread that is best served with coffee. Enjoy! Mr Breakfast would like to thank casey for this recipe. Recipe number 1197. Submitted 2/27/2004.