Valentine's Bread

Sean (the bread maker in this house) made me this bread for our first year of marriage. It's become a valentine's tradition.

1/4 cup warm water
1 package Active Dry yeast
1/4 coup warm milk
1/2 cup butter softened
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3-31/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs

Filling:

4 Tablespoons of melted butter
1/4 teaspoon of almond extract
1/2-1 cup of powdered sugar
1/2 cup candied cherries chopped
1 cup slivered almonds

Place warm water in bowl. Sprinkle in yeast and stir until dissolved. Add milk, butter, sugar, salt and 1 cup flour. Mix well. Sit in eggs and enough flour to make soft dough. Knead until elastic- 4-6 minutes. Cover; let rise until doubled- about one hour.

Prepare filling. Mix melted butter, extract and enough powdered sugar to form a paste.

Punch dough down. Roll to 30x9 intch rectangle. Spread paste to the edges of dough. Sprinkle on almonds and cherries.
Roll dough into a jelly roll. Cut lengthwise. Turn the dough so that the cut sides are face up. Join the two pieces into a heart shape, pinch seams to seal.

Place on greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise 20-40 minutes until doubled in size.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes being sure not to overbake.