Why not bake some bread today?

 

I have always loved to bake bread. The smell of baking bread in the oven ... Heavenly!!!   I have two go to recipes that I use.  One is a honey wheat bread. I have had this recipe for so long I am not sure where it came from. This recipe makes two loves of bread. The good news about making your own bread - NO preservatives involved. Also remember you can always split the recipe and make just one loaf.  With this recipe you can mix up the flour. You can put all wheat flour or mix almond flour or a spelt flour. Just keep the amount of flour the same.... About 8-1/2 cups total. You can also add a bit of rosemary, or Flax seed. Even add a bit of oats for a hardy loaf.

 You will need:

3 C. Warm water

2 pk of dry active yeast

5 C. white flour

3-1/2 C. wheat flour

3 T. butter melted

1/3 C. honey

I mix all dry ingredients together. Set aside.Dissolve yeast in 3 cups warm water. (about 10 minutes). Mix honey and melted butter together.When the yeast is completely devolved- add the honey and butter mixture to yeast mixture and begin to mix with flour. I place all the ingredients together and mix with my mixer using the "bread" paddle. When mixed together place dough onto a flour board.  Begin to knead until smooth. Add more flour if necessary. Let rise in a buttered bowl covered in plastic wrap until doubled in bulk. Butter 2 loaf pans. Punch dough down, divide in half, form loaves, and place into pans. Cover with plastic and let rise again until loaves almost reach pan tops. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 40-50 minutes until browned and hollow-sounding when tapped. Remove from pans and cool on racks.

This recipe comes from My very first of many Martha Stewart books.  This book inspired me so much as a young homemaker. Weather you like Martha or not in my opinion she really did put the "art" back into keeping a home.

This recipe is called Breakfast Bread. It is perfectly wonderful all by itself. Also makes Great French toast.

Things you will need:

2 C. milk

8 T. (1 stick) of butter

1 t. salt

2 T. sugar

2- packages dry yeast

2/3 cup warm water

6-7 cups all-purpose flour

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Dissolve yeast into warm water.

Scald milk in a small pot. Stir in the butter, salt, and sugar.

Cool Milk to lukewarm and add to the yeast and water mixture.

Mix 3 cups of flour into the liquid ingredients. Stir in egg. Add rest of flour and knead until smooth and elastic. Add more flour if necessary. Let rise in a buttered bowl covered in plastic wrap until doubled in bulk. Butter 2 loaf pans. Punch dough down, divide in half, form loaves, and place into pans. Cover with plastic and let rise again until loaves almost reach pan tops. Preheat oven to 350. Bake for 40-50 minutes until browned and hollow-sounding when tapped. Remove from pans and cool on racks..

Keeping all of your bread baking things together is a great idea.

BEST EVER - Loaf pans- Glada's found at Target.

Baking homemade bread is a "good thing"....

Enjoy.