Basic White Bread

It's fair time around our part of the country.  And every so often I like to enter one or two of the baking exhibits.  Two years ago, I entered my basic white bread in the yeast bread exhibit and won 2nd place for the state.  This year, I decided to try again, (hoping for another ribbon).  Bread is one of the easiest and most inexpensive food items you can prepare for your family.  It shows so much love for neighbors and friends.  I don't know anyone who says no to a loaf of fresh homemade bread.   And with just a few practice loaves, you'll wonder why you've been buying bread, when for about 25 cents a loaf you can make your own.


This receipe makes 2 loafs.




You will need:

6 – 7 cups bread flour

3 Tabs. Sugar

1 Tabs. Salt

2 Tabs. Vegetable oil

2 packets instant yeast

2 ¼ cups very warm water

2 Tabs. Butter

In a large bowl combine the warm water, sugar and yeast.   Let the mixture set for about 5 minutes, so the yeast can proof..  The mixture will start to bubble around the edges and get a little foamy, (you know your yeast is alive and active).

Now add in 2 cups of bread flour, salt, and oil.  Stir well to incorporate.  If you want, you can use a mixer at this point.

Continue mixing in flour, 1 cup at a time, to form a bread dough.  How much flour you use will depend on various things; the humidity and how much water the flour is holding.

Note:  at this point, if you are using a mixer you will want to stop and stir in the flour by hand.  It will be to stiff for most mixers.

Once your dough has come together, it will look like this.  It will still be a little sticky, but it will no longer cling to the sides of the bowl.

Turn the flour out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, (approximately 5 minutes).

You will know your dough has enough gluten, (elasticity), when you can press your finger in the center and it springs back easily).  Shape the dough into a nice smooth ball.  Place in a large greased bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel.  Place in a warm area, and allow the dough to double in size, (approximately 1 hour).

After the dough has risen, remove the dough from the bowl, gently flatten the dough out and cut the dough in half.

 Gently roll the dough into a 10 X 9 inch rectangle.

 Starting at the 9 inch end, roll the dough up, making sure to pinch the dough edge as you make each turn.

Make sure to pinch the end of the dough tightly together when it is completly rolled.

Using 2 fingers, push the ends of the roll into the middle of the roll.

Now pinch the ends of the roll, and tuck the ends under.

Repeat with the second half of the dough.

 Place each roll of bread dough in a greased loaf pan.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel.  Place in a warm area and allow dough to rise until dough, (approximately 1 hour).

After the dough has risen, it will look like this.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, with baking rack in the center position of oven.

Bake the loaves for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown, (I like to test the internal temperature to make sure it registers 197 degrees).

Note:  If your loaves are browning too quickly, after 15 minutes, cover with aluminum foil, so the outside won't burn, while the inside continues to cook.

Remove from oven, allow to cool in pans for 5 minutes.  Remove from pans.  Lightly coat the outside of the bread with butter, (this will give each loaf a nice soft exterior).

Allow each loaf to cool completely before slicing.

And you now have two delicious loaves of bread.  One to keep and one to give as a gift.

 Well - I am ready to enter my loaf of bread in the fair this week.  Judging is about ready to start.  So, I have to get moving and get my entry over to the judging stand.

Now go make some award winning bread for your family.

Enjoy!