Poppy Seed and Maple Syrup Bread

2 tablespoons Dry Yeast
1/2 teaspoon Sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons Salt
6 cups Flour
1/4 cup vegetable Oil
3 tablespoons poppy seed
2 cups warm water

Combine yeast with warm water. Add  the rest of the ingredients. Shape the dough into 2 9X5 loaf pans. Let rise covered with tea towels in warm place for 35 minutes or until the tops of loaves have just risen above the edge of the pans,.

Brush loaves with and egg wash made by beating 1 egg with 1/4 tsp salt. Sprinkle the tops generously with poppy seeds.

Put the risen loaves in the middle of a cold oven, set the oven to 375 degrees and bake 30 minutes.

Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 20-25 minutes more until golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Cool on rack covered w/ tea towels. after 30 minutes remove towels and cool completely.