Basic Bread

Well, let's start with the staff of life since we're stuck in the middle of winter and it is a great time to bake bread. Here is a great recipe that is really hard to mess up- hence, I can finally hold my head high and join the ranks of people who make homemade bread. Use whole wheat flour for a great batch of wheat bread, or use white or a combination of both.

Mix together: ( I use a Kitchenaid w/ dough hook)

2 1/2 c hot water

2TBS oil

1/2 TBS salt

just under 1/2 c honey

2-3 c flour

then add:

1 TBS SAF instant yeast (I know they sell it at Dick's mktplc)

3 c flour

Knead five min. The dough WILL be sticky like bubble gum. Just add flour till it's manageable, but too much flour will make tough, heavy bread.

Cover, let rise in a warm spot 20-30 min. till double. Punch down, put in 2 loaf pans. Rise again 20-30 min. Bake 350º for around thirty min, till dark golden and sounds hollow when tapped. Let cool 10 min, turn out of pans. Smell is heavenly. Here is a picture of the type of yeast you need:

Kitchen tip of the day:

If you want to get the smell off your hands after chopping onions, rub your fingers together over the tines of a metal fork under cold running water. It works!