The other day at an estate sale I picked up this very simple bread tray. Antique reproduction if you will. It is pewter colored and has an engraving on the base of some men in a wheat field and it says "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread." I don't know why I liked it - but I did. So, when one has a bread tray one should make bread!
(I do believe this is the first picture of me on this blog - hello everyone!)
(I do believe this is the first picture of me on this blog - hello everyone!)
Here's my preferred recipe for when I have a couple of hours to enjoy the kneading, punching, rising, kneading, baking, smelling, cooling process of making bread. It's great as a breakfast bread lightly toasted with some fruit or jelly on top.
I don't do the bread machine thing. If I'm going to go to the trouble to make brad - I want to really experience it! Besides, there is no where in this small apartment kitchen to store yet another kitchen appliance anyway.
Amish White Bread
2 cups warm water
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast (2 packets typically)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast (2 packets typically)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour
1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.
2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans. (make sure you wait for the full rise - not just 30 minutes! I got impatient and my bread was a little flat :( )
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
I'll have to give this bread recipe a try. I'm with you on the bread machine thing....if I'm going to make fresh bread give me some good dough to kneed and enjoy the whole process.
ReplyDeleteI love your green shirt. It's a great color for you and makes for a great picture.
Mmmm that bread looks so good. I'll have to try that recipe sometime.
ReplyDeleteI think I have a similar bread tray! I'll have to look and post a pic for you. I got it from my grandmother.
ReplyDeleteThe bread sounds wonderful!
just a note - i think you're suppose to have a liner or something on the bread pan - seems i read that when i thought about buying one one time, of course that would be a new one (probably from china :-)) so don't know if it applies.
ReplyDeletefresh bread does sound good,though. gg use to make it when i was a kid, probably cheaper than buying it, but i couldn't appreciate it back then.
the pic looks great - did you have a tripod or just set it on the counter?
What does "allow to proof" mean?
ReplyDeleteYay for bread, your first pick of yoruself and your adorable yellow apron! :)
ReplyDeleteYummy, that looks delicious! I've never made bread before. I'd love to try,just afraid it won't turn out good.
ReplyDelete