Bread

The first time that I made bread for my husband I burnt it to a crisp! I was so excited to make it as my Mom used to make bread by hand all the time. All this effort with him poking curiously around me watching and sniffing. I set the oven and set the timer and went off to get read for work. I remember smelling it thinking.. oooh coming along nicely and then the timer went off and like a proud Mama I opened the oven door to be bombarded with the smell of burnt bread. Doh!




My husband seeing my crest fallen face quickly takes the bread and starts scraping off the top saying the bread is still perfectly good inside. He proceeds to show me by slicing the brick of bread and popping it in the toaster while I gave him a hug and kiss and boy was he my knight just then. Off to work I headed out the door while feeling like a million bucks. But, for some reason this day I had forgotten something and so inside I ran back in to find him putting my new bread slices in the garbage and putting 2 new bought slices in the toaster! LOL I set the oven at 475 instead of 375 by the way! Lesson learned. :)

Anyway, today I'm making bread again and thought perhaps I would share the step by step instructions. It really felt quite wonderful doing it and I think I'm going to make it more often and try out different variations of it. My daughter showed a huge interest and that alone is enough for me to keep making it by scratch. :) It's my first time blogging something like this so bare with me okee doke?






Delicious White Bread Recipe from the old Pillsbury Complete Book of Baking Cookbook. This was one that my Mom used to have and handed it down to me. Awesome recipes in it and it never has failed me yet! Duck tape holds it together and the pages are not in order anymore but I seem to find what I'm looking for anyway.







Ingredients:




5 to 6 cups all purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons salt

2 pkg. active dry yeast

2 cups water


1/4 cup oil or shortening

1 tablespoon margarine or butter, melted


Step by step! :D


1. In large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast; blend well.



2. In small saucepan, heat water and oil until very warm (120 to 130F). Add warm liquid to flour mixture.



3. Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed.



4. By hand, stir in an additional 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour until dough pulls cleanly away from sides of bowl.




5. On floured surface, knead in 1/2 to 1 cup flour until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.











6. Place dough in greased bowl; cover loosely with plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place (80-85F) until light and doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.












7. Grease two 8x4 or two 9x5 inch loaf pans. Punch down dough several times to remove all air bubbles.

8. Divide dough into 2 parts; shape into loaves. Place in greased pans.











9. Cover; let rise in warm place until dough fills pans and tops of loaves are about 1 inch above pan edges, 30 to 35 minutes.











10. Heat oven to 375F. Uncover dough. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when lightly tapped. Immediately remove from pans; cool ion wire racks. Brush with melted margarine or butter.

Ooops! Those are my sons new rainboots.

Here is the finished product! ;) :) And, not even burnt!

Makes 2 18 slice loaves.

Throw in some raisins and cinnamon if you like raisin toast in step 1. :) Let me know how it goes if you try it also! :D

Spread the Love!

Peace,

Tammy