Sister's "Swirl Bread"

Originally known as "Two-Tone Bread" from the Better Homes and Gardens Homemade Bread Cook Book, pub. 1973, given to Mom from Popsy for Christmas 1978. It was a favorite of our early Thanksgivings.

Ingredients

• 5¼ to 5½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 3 cups milk (Sister's note: 1¾ cups cream or evaporated milk [3 5-oz cans] and 1¼ cups water; Carson suspects she used evaporated milk)
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup shortening
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 tablespoons dark molasses (Sister's note: or 1 T molasses and 2 T honey)
• 2¼ cups whole wheat flour

To Prepare

1. In large mixer, combine 3 cups of the all-purpose flour and the yeast.
2. In saucepan, heat together milk, sugar, shortening and salt just till warm (115 - 120 degrees), stirring constantly to melt shortening.
3. Add to dry mixture in mixer bowl and beat at low speed with electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping sides of bowl constantly.
4. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. Divide dough in half. (Sister's note: approximately 2 cups plus 2½ oz each)
5. To one half, stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to make a moderately stiff dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead till smooth and elastic (5 to 8 minutes).
6. Shape into ball and place in well-greased bowl, turning once; set aside.
7. To remaining dough, stir in molasses and whole wheat flour. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Knead till smooth and elastic (5 to 8 minutes), kneading in enough additional all-purpose flour (about 3 tablespoons) to make a moderately stiff dough.
8. Shape into a ball and place dough in well-greased bowl, turning once to grease surface.
9. Let both doughs rise in warm place until double (1 to 1¼ hours).
10. Punch doughs down; cover and let rest 10 minutes.
11. Roll out half the light dough and half the dark, each to a 12 x 8 inch rectangle. Place dark dough atop light; roll up tightly into loaf, beginning at short side. Repeat with remaining doughs.
12. Place in two greased 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inch loaf pans. Cover; let rise till double (45 to 60 minutes).
13. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove; cool.