dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of the milk; add 1/4 tsp of sugar until yeast becomes active. Add one cup of the flour to the yeast; sprinkle with flour and let rise until double. Set aside.
2
Combine salt and egg yolks; beat until thick. Add sugar and Peels, mix until well combined and light in color.
3
Combine the yeast mixture with the egg yolk mixture. Add two cups of the flour and the remaining milk; alternating each so that the mixture doesn''t get too wet or too dry. Knead for 5-10 minutes.
4
Add remaining flour and the butter knead until dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. Cover and let rise until double.
5
Seperate into 6 mini loaves; cover 5 of the loaves. Seperate the remaining loaf into 3 parts. Roll each into long strip. Pinch ends of the strips and braid together. Repeat with remaining dough.
6
brush with beaten egg whites and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes switching loave positions every 15 minutes for even baking.