Basic Bread Recipe

Knowing how to bake a loaf of bread is a basic life skill

Here's the bread recipe I use the most. It's really easy and very forgiving, which makes it good for beginners. For example, if I forget to set the timer and let it rise too long, I just end up with a coarser, more "country" style of bread. I can shape it freestyle into 1, 2, 3, or more small loaves - oblong, square, or round. I can shape it into small dinner rolls, and even roll it out and use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water (not too hot!)
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 egg
• 3-1/4 cups Gold Medal Unbleached flour
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar or honey - the yeast like these more than refined sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsps regular active dry yeast

Directions:

1. Mix the water, butter, and yeast in a small bowl and set in a warm place to activate for about 5 minutes.
2. Measure 3 cups of the flour into a large mixing bow, and add the salt.
3. When the yeast broth is ready (when it starts to "bloom" upwards in the bowl), add the egg and honey and the yeast liquid to the flour.
4. Mix with spoon or spatula, then turn the dough out on the the counter, and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of flour.
5. Knead for about 10 minutes. It's a soft dough and requires the "smear" style of kneading. Add more flour if it's sticky and hard to work with. Should make a nice, smooth ball.
6. First rise: Put the dough ball into a heavy bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and put into a warm place. I usually run the oven for awhile and turn it off, and let the bread rise on the stovetop. Let it rise about 1-1/2 hours.
7. Second rise: Punch down the dough and form it into loaves - Whatever you need. 1 big loaf, 2 loaves, 3 small loaves, 1 braided loaf, hot dog or hamburger bun shapes, whatever. It's very versatile. I use the stoneware baking dish, greased with a little butter. Cover with paper towels or light cloth and let rise for 40 minutes.
8. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Enjoy!