Zopf -Swiss Twist bread

The plan bread form( this recipe calls for all white flour)

Zopf-Sunday bread

3 2/3 cups flour( 2 cups whole wheat 1 2/3 cups unbleached white flour)
1 1/2 cups milk( 2% or Whole)
1 stick butter
1 -2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Do not preheat the oven!

mix flour and salt. heat 3/4 cup of the milk in microwave until warm enjoy to react with yeast properly. mix warm milk, sugar and yeast let stand.melt butter in microwave( you can use the same container you used to heat the milk, A glass measuring cup is best since you can heat the milk in it and then melt the butter). Make a hole in the flour, pour yeast mixture in add butter. measure out 1/2 more of milk and add it to mixture. add one egg white( separate the yolk and set aside in a little bowl for the glaze later). Mix all ingredients well and begin to knead until all flour is mixed into dough knead for about five minutes until it is no longer sticky( should be a pretty moist dough not too dry). Round dough into a ball and place in a large mixing bowl cover with a cloth and let rise until double. Punch down and separate into two parts. divide again so you have four equal pieces of dough or if you want a larger loaf just leave it as two pieces.Stretch or role dough pieces into long ropes (this is best done pressing it with your hands as you stretch it out) it does not need to be any particular length the thicker the ropes the thicker the bread. The pieces of dough should be the same length. Take two ropes of dough lay them across each other so they make an X( If one seems slightly larger I try to lay that one down first).(see explanation below)
After dough is braided coat with egg yolk be sure to get in the cracks of the braid. Put finished bread onto a cookie sheet ( will increase about double so make sure there is enough room. A normal cookie sheet can easily fit two loaves) .Place place the bread into a cold oven and turn on oven to 350. Bake for about 45 minutes or until glaze is dark golden brown and loaf sounds hollow. It might be closer to 50 min but not over that until making an extra large loaf.