Portuguese Sweet Bread

2-1/2 lbs flour (about 7 cups)
2 cups milk
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 sticks butter
6 eggs
2 oz yeast
¼ cup flour
2 T sugar
¼ cup water

Combine milk, sugar, and salt in saucepan and boil for three minutes. Add butter and stir until melted. Cool pan with milk mixture in sink filled with cold water. Combine yeast, ¼ cup flour, 2 T sugar, and ¼ cup water to make paste. Set aside in a warm place. Beat eggs until foamy. Place flour in large mixing bowl and stir in cooled milk mixture. Using electric mixer, blend in eggs and yeast mixture at a low speed. Stir until dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. Shape dough into a ball, place in a well-greased bowl, and let rise two to three hours in a warm place. Punch down and shape into biscuits or small loaves. Let rise again four to five hours. Bake at 325 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Makes three dozen small loaves.