Brioches

Soften yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. In a large mixing bowl combine butter or margarine, sugar, and salt; beat with an electric mixer on low speed till fluffy. Add 1 cup of the flour and the milk to the beaten mixture. Separate one of the eggs. Add the egg yolk and the remaining 3 eggs to beaten mixture. (Refrigerate the egg white in a covered container.) Add softened yeast and beat well. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the remaining flour till smooth. Gather dough into a ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl; turn once. Cover and let rise in a warm place till double (about 2 hours), then refrigerate dough for 6 hours. (Or, omit the 2-hour rising time and refrigerate the dough for 12 to 24 hours.) Stir dough down. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 4 portions; set 1 portion aside. Divide each of the remaining 3 portions into 8 pieces, making a total of 24. With floured hands, form each piece into a ball, tucking under edges. Place in greased muffin cups. Divide reserved dough portion into 24 pieces; shape into balls. With a floured finger, make an indentation in each large ball. Press a small ball into each indentation. Combine reserved egg white and 1 tablespoon water; brush onto rolls. Cover and let rise in a warm place till nearly double (45 to 55 minutes). Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for 7 minutes and brush again with egg white mixture. Bake for about 8 minutes longer, or till golden brown. Remove from pans; cool on wire racks.