Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Basic bread recipe

3 cups of bread flour

3 cups of wheat flour

2 tbsp. milk powder

3 tsp. salt

Mix above ingredients, put to one side,



In mixer(use dough hooks);

2 cups plus 4 tbsp. warm water(about 100 degrees)

2 tblsp. sugar

5 tblsp. yeast

2 tblsp. softened butter(add after yeast)



When yeast starts to foam, add 1 cup of flour mixture at a time on low speed, scrape down sides.

When dough forms a ball, place in large, oiled bowl, cover and hold in draft free and warm area until dough rises to double original size.

Flour hands and punch down, divide into 2 loaves, kneading lightly and shaping. Place in greased loaf pans, cover and let rise again.

Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown and the loaves sound hollow when tapped.

Remove from pans onto racks, let sit for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy!

I have found that 1 bag of bread flour costs the same as 1 1/2 loaves of bread, at 5#'s, that is several loaves. And you can freeze 1 loaf for later in the week.

Next thing you know, I'll be putting the dry ingredients together in ziplock bags for quick baking! LOL!

10 comments:

Brooke said...

Holy Smokes! I take the weekend or so off, and there's a wealth of info here!

The Merry Widow said...

Just truckin' right along, girlfriend! ;-}

tmw

nanc said...

homemade bread is pop's bag - i'll give him this recipe!

*8] love the aroma!

The Merry Widow said...

Where is nancpop's recipe for quick bread?
:stomping of feet and pouting:
j/k! LOL!
But that is one I WANT!
Please?

tmw

Anonymous said...

Nothin' in the world like fresh bread...

Papa Frank said...

I am a lover of cooking and enjoy it but have never been very good with dough and baking. I'll give this one here a shot. As part of the wheat flower could you put in some sort of whole grains that would put that little crunchy texture in the bread?

nanc said...

getcha some seven grain cereal from an amish store - it's the best!

The Merry Widow said...

I don't see why not, OR, roll the dough in a grain mix before the second rising! With a little butter spray, it should be good!

tmw

cube said...

I'm going to cut & paste this recipe and try it. I've never been much of a baker, but this sounds like something even I can do.

The Merry Widow said...

It may need a little extra water, the dough is slightly dry, try it with 2 1/2 cups...
Elasticity is the key.
Good baking!

tmw