I need to re-learn how to make bread. I sold off my electric breadmaker years ago. I need to do it the old fashioned way. I have all the ingred well stocked now. When the cheap loaf of no name bread is $2......
Basic white bread recipe (from my MIL)
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup water
1 cup milk
2 packages yeast OR 2 tablespoons from the jar (I recommend buying it by the jar and refridgerating after opening)
3-5 teaspoons sugar
5-6 cups all purpose (or bread) flour
salt
DIrections:
1) Heat up the water, milk and butter and SUGAR in a microwave safe bowl
I like to use my microwave to warm them up, like for a minute. When you can touch it with your knuckle and not get burned,
2) Add the yeast
3) Let the yeast feed on the sugar for maybe 30 minutes, then
4) Add the flour
Mix the flour in, one cup at a time, with a big spoon. Total flour depends upon humidity. If it's very dry, use 6 cups. If it's very humid, use less.
5) Take both hands and knead it together into a ball on your counter.
**Some people like to work and work and work the dough. I LIKE to do this. The more you work the dough, the denser the bread will become.
6) Grease the bowl with softened butter (or baking spray, if you prefer) and make a ball of dough, put in the bowl
7) Cover with a towel until it doubles.
This will be at Least one hour. I like to let it rise EITHER in a cold oven, or in my microwave.
8) Put the risen dough back on the counter and punch it down,
9) Take a knife and divide it up according to your breadpans.
You can use glass, metal, or combinations. This recipe makes 2 meat loaf pan sized loaves OR 1 meatloaf pan +2 holiday sized small loaf pans
10) Grease your pans
11) Work the dough to fit your pans
12) Let rise in a cold oven until they have doubled
then
13) Turn oven on at 350
14) Set the timer for 25 minutes (if you are using small loaf pans and take just Those out of the oven)
or
35 minutes for meatloaf sized pans
15) Use oven gloves to remove and turn upside down all pans onto plate(s)
Do this ASAP bc the loaf will have humidity from the baking pan and you want that to dry out for about 30 minutes. You loaves can be a little bit mushy if you let them cool IN the pans.
I have been a bread maker for 35 years now.
There are SOOOOO many great bread recipes out there!
Here is one to look at, too.
