Country White Bread

  1. Crack the 3 large eggs in one bowl and then put the other 3 egg yolks in another bowl (my way of coming to room temp quickly).
  2. Spray a large 8 quart bowl with vegetable spray.
  3. Set bowl aside.
  4. Warm the milk with shortening and the butter in small saucepan.
  5. Pour the hot milk mixture into a large bowl (kitchen aid bowl) and add the salt and 1/2 cups sugar or honey.
  6. Let the mixture cool to lukewarm.
  7. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water with a pinch of sugar and allow it to become bubbly, about 3 minutes.
  8. Meanwhile, stir the whole eggs and egg yolks into the milk mixture, then add the dissolved yeast.
  9. Stir in the bread flour, 1 1/2 cups at a time, then add the all-purpose flour, to create a somewhat stiff and shaggy mass that is no longer easier stirred.
  10. Use a sturdy rubber spatula to scrape the mass out onto a floured surface and knead it until youve created a dough thats smooth and elastic, adding only as much additional flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking.
  11. Place the dough in the greased bowl and spray the top lightly with vegetable spray.
  12. Cover the bowl with greased plastic and a kitchen clean towel.
  13. Let the dough rise in a warm draft free spot for 2 hours.
  14. Uncover the dough and punch it down with several swift swats with the back of your hand.
  15. Turn the dough over in the bowl and knead it gently to redistribute the yeast, Re-cover the bowl and let the dough rise again until very light and billowy, 1 1/4 hours.
  16. To shape, rise and bake the loaves, first spray three 9 x 5 inch loaf pans and set them aside.
  17. Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it gently and briefly.
  18. Using a pastry scraper, divide the dough into 3 equal portions and cover them while working with one at a time.
  19. Toll one piece into a 8 x 10 inch rectangle, with one short end close to you.
  20. Starting at the short end that is farthest from you, roll the dough snugly toward you.
  21. After each revolution, use the fingertips on your working hand to press down and connect the interior wall of the roll to the bottom of the dough.
  22. When you reach the bottom, pinch the last inch of dough onto the roll so it adheres.
  23. Working with one end at a time, press each coiled spiral of dough in towards the center of the of the log.
  24. Pinch the top and bottom outer rims of dough together, elongating this part slightly, and attach it to the bottom seam, rounding off and sealing each end.
  25. Lay the loaf seam side down in a prepared loaf pan and use your hands to gently plump and correct shape.
  26. Cover the loaf with a clean kitchen towel and repeat this procedure with the remaining dough.
  27. Let the dough rise for 45 minutes in a draft free spot.
  28. Twenty minutes before the end of the rise, preheat oven to 400 if using metal pans, 375 if using glass.
  29. Just before placing the loaves in the ovens, brush the tops with melted butter.
  30. Bake the loaves in the middle of the oven, with 1 1/2 inches between them, for 30 to 35 minutes, covering loosely with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes.
  31. Remove the loaves from the oven and turn them out of their pans onto wire racks.
  32. Give the bottom of each loaf a good tap on the bottom, which should sound hollow.
  33. If not, put them back into the oven (on a shallow baking sheet) for a few more minutes.
  34. When done, remove the loaves from the oven and, for the softest crust, brush the tops with more melted butter.
  35. Let the loaves cool on wire racks before slicing.
  36. *The dough can be made two days ahead of baking.
  37. After the first punch down, cover the bowl securely with the original greased plastic wrap and then with aluminum foil.
  38. Before shaping, let the dough sit out of refrigeration until it comes to room temperature (which can take 4 hours).
  39. Shape, rise and bake as directed.
  40. *To freeze these loaves, dont apply the last application of butter after baking, which tends to create a shriveled look in frozen breads.
  41. When fully cool, warp the loaf in a double layer of aluminum foil, then slip the loaf inside a large heavy duty freezer bag and freeze up to one month.

unsalted butter, milk, vegetable shortening, salt, sugar, sugar, active dry yeast, water, eggs, egg yolks, bread flour, flour

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/country-white-bread-266816 (may not work)

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