Swedish Tea Ring Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup warm water (real warm to almost hot - 130 degrees , but not hotter)
• 1 package yeast
• pour water into small bowl and add yeast - stirring to dissolve well. add a pinch of white granulated sugar and stir to proof the yeast. let sit for about 5 minutes till yeast bubbles and at least doubles in size. then add yeast to these next ingredients
• 3/4 cup lukewarm milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg (room temp )
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 cups flour
• mix until smooth. add enough additional flour (up to an additional 1 1/2 or 2 cups) to handle easily and mix with your hands. turn onto lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes). round up in greased bowl, greased side up and cover with a damp cloth to let rise. rise in a warm place until double in size - about 1 1/2 hours. punch down and let rise again about 30 to 45 minutes.
• roll dough into oblong 15x9 shape. spread soft butter all over and then sprinkle the following over the dough
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• roll up dough longwise seam-side down. then bring ends together to form a circle and pinch edges together. make cuts 2/3 of the way into the ring every 1 inch around. turn each section onto its side. let rise again about 30 to 45 minutes.
• bake at 375 for 25 to 30 minutes.
• spread top with icing
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• mix to a spreading consistency and drizzle over warm ring.