Braided Bread Loaf

1 pkg active dry yeast
1 tsp honey
1 cup lukewarm milk
4 tbsp butter, melted
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp milk, for the glaze

Combine the yeast, honey, milk and butter, stir and let sit for 15 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the egg and yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon starting in the center and gradually working in all the flour to form a rough dough.
Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours.
Grease a baking sheet. Punch down dough and divide into three equal parts. Roll each piece into a long thin strip. Begin braiding the loaf and tuck the ends underneath. Cover loosely and leave to rise another 30 minutes in a warm place.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is warming up, glaze the loaf with the egg and milk mixture. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

*This is officially the coolest thing I have ever made. It came out so awesome and the smell in the house was incredible. There is nothing like homemade bread. And trust me, if I can make this ANYONE can make this! It is a little time-consuming, yes, but it is not hard and it is well worth it. I recommend making this a couple days ahead of Thanksgiving so you're not scrambling on Turkey Day to make fresh bread. This is an impressive addition to any meal, and it is certainly delicious! Sure it's easier to just buy a tube of biscuits and whip those up in a hurry, but you can't beat homemade bread from scratch - and believe me, it's easy!

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10