Challah

In large mixing bowl combine yeast, sugar and warm water. Let sit still until bubbly. Add in oil, 3 eggs plus 1 egg white, salt, and part of flour. Gradually stir in remaining flour, then knead. Add more flour if needed to make smooth soft dough. Let dough rise in bowl. Grease 3 cookie sheets. Turn dough onto greased countertop. With greased hands divide dough into 3 pieces for 3 loaves. Divide each loaf into 4 equal pieces, and roll out each fourth into a rope about 16 inches long. Place 4 ropes side by side on a greased cookie sheet and "weave" into a braided loaf. Repeat with remaining loaves. Gently brush each loaf with the reserved egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp water. Try to keep yolk from running onto the cookie sheet as it tends to burn. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired. Let rise for 30-60 min. Preheat oven. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on rack. You may half the recipe to make one very large loaf.