There is no smell better than bread baking in your oven! I mean, NOTHING says home like fresh bread. I firmly believe it is what Heaven will smell like. Yes, infinite amounts of fresh bread! And, because it is Heaven, carbs and calories won't count! Are you with me? Well, you should be! *lol*
Anyway, today is Wednesday and that means it is church night. On church nights, dinner is usually something quick and easy, so I thought I would bake something special for my husband. Not to mention that when I did the math, my homemade loaf of bread was about .88. The average store bought loaf, 1.99! That's a big difference! So allow me to share a little love from my oven to yours. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you....
HOMEMADE WHITE BREAD:
*Prep Time: 2 1/2 hours *Cook Time: 30 min. Difficulty: Easy Servings: 1 loaf
Here is what you will need:
- 2 tsp. Instant Yeast
- 2 tsp. Salt
- 2 c. WARM water
- 4-5 c. All Purpose Flour
Tools you will need:
- Kitchenaid Mixer with the hook attachment (or LARGE mixing bowl)
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Large Bowl
- Bread Pan
To begin, you are going to place your yeast in the bowl of your mixer.
(If you do not have a mixer, place in a LARGE mixing bowl.)
Add your two cups of WARM water, and leave alone for 10 minutes.
When your yeast is active and ready, it will be frothy and bubbly like the picture above.
(Same in your mixing bowl.)
After your yeast is active, add your salt.
(Same with your bowl.)
Next, add 2 c. of flour and mix on low.
(If you are working in a bowl do the same thing, but mix well with a spoon.)
After your initial 2 c. of flour are well combined with your water, add your flour, a cup at a time, while your mixer is on low.
(If you are working in a bowl, you will need to use your hands to knead the dough by folding it in half, like a book, and pressing down into the bowl continuously. As you get each cup incorporated add another.)
When all of your flour is incorporated and the bowl is clean, You can remove your dough from the hook.
(If you are working in a bowl there will still be a little four, but when it looks like the photo above, it is ready.)
But, before you do that, pour a little oil in a bowl and...
Grease it to keep the dough from sticking.
Place dough in bowl.
Cover with a damp towel and allow to rise for one hour.
The dough will double in size.
This is where it gets fun! You are going to make a fist and BAM! Punch that dough down.
There, doesn't that feel better?
Pull it out of the bowl and work it in your hands a little.
Spray your bread pan with cooking spray.
And put your dough in the pan. You may have to work it a little to fit into the pan.
Cover with a damp towel and....
Yep, you guessed it, let it rise for an hour!
It should look something like this when it is finished.
Put in a 400 degree oven and 30 minutes and...
TA-DA! You will have a beautiful loaf of bread!!!
Mmmmm.....Warm, fluffy, and oh so nice! Yes, bread is not something you can do in 30 minutes. It is a labor of love, but let me assure you, when you serve this to your family, they will feel that love from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet! I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know how it works out for you! I would LOVE to see your pictures on my facebook page.
And as always...
Happy Reading, Happy Eating, and Happy Living,
~The Kitchen Wife~
Homemade White Bread
Ingredients:
Directions:
In your Kitchenaid mixer, with the hook attachment, add your yeast and two cups of WARM water.
Give it a little stir and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. When the yeast is active and frothy, add 2 c. of flour and turn it on low.
After that is combined, add the rest of the flour one cup at a time.
When the dough is kneaded, and is pulling away from the side of the bowl, turn off and put in a oiled bowl.
Cover with a damp tea towel & let rise for one hour. Dough should double in size.
After one hour, punch your dough down, remove it from bowl, and knead it in your hands until it feels smooth.
Place dough in a greased bread pan, cover with a damp tea towel, and allow to rise for one more hour.
After dough has risen a second time, place in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.
When the 30 minutes is over, take out of oven and allow to cool in pan for at least 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, remove from pan, and allow bread to finish cooling.
When cool, slice and serve
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YUM! Can't wait to make this!
ReplyDeleteBe sure to let me know how it works out for you!
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