Jacks Yeast Bread
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 tablespoons solid shortening
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup lukewarm water (80 to 85F)
- 56 cups bread flour
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- Scald the milk and add the solid shortening, sugar, and salt.
- Stir until the shortening is melted, and cool to lukewarm (80 to 85F).
- In a large, warm bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the lukewarm water.
- Wait 5 minutes and stir the yeast into the water.
- Add the cooled milk mixture.
- Stir in enough flour to make a very stiff dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead about 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and satiny.
- Place the dough in a warm, lightly buttered bowl.
- Turn the dough to coat it with butter.
- Cover the bowl with a cloth and allow the dough to rise in a warm place (80 to 85F), free from drafts, until the dough has doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
- Using your fingers or your fist, punch down the dough to release the air and turn the dough over in the bowl so the smooth oiled side is on top.
- Cover the bowl and let rise again until almost doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes.
- Turn the dough out onto a board and divide into 2 equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a ball, cover with a cloth, and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Shape each ball into a loaf and place the loaves into 2 greased loaf pans, 5 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 3 1/2-inches.
- Brush the tops of the loaves with melted butter, cover, and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
- Turn the loaves out on a rack to cool.
- The bread is done when it sounds hollow when lightly tapped on the sides or bottom.
- Jack used specially shaped tubes such as stars, rounds, and scallops for party sandwich bread.
- Water may be substituted for part or all of the milk.
- Bread made with milk has a browner crust.
milk, solid shortening, sugar, salt, active dry yeast, water, bread flour, butter
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/jack-s-yeast-bread-388983 (may not work)