Beginner's Bread - a Pantry Recipe
- 3 cups white flour (plus a little extra flour for kneading) or 3 cups whole wheat flour (plus a little extra flour for kneading)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons yeast (one standard packet)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons oil or 2 tablespoons shortening, melted
- 1 cup warm water (not hot, just warm)
- Mix dry ingredients together.
- Add oil and water, mixing with a fork until sticky and stiff.
- Start mixing with your hands to form a nice dough ball.
- If it is too sticky add flour if too dry add water.
- Add just a teaspoon at a time.
- When your dough balls nicely then turn it out onto floured counter.
- Knead the dough.
- To knead do you press it, fold it, stretch it, turn it, repeat.
- Continue kneading for a full 5 minutes.
- This is very important.
- Do not short this step.
- Let dough rest a few minutes.
- Clean your bowl and spray it with a little oil.
- Put dough in bowl and turn to coat with oil.
- Place dough in a warm spot to rise and cover with a tea towel.
- Dough should double in size.
- This may take upto 2 hours.
- When dough has risen punch it down with your fist to force the air out.
- Knead dough again just long enough to get all the air out.
- Let dough rest while you oil a loaf pan.
- Put doughball in pan and cover with teatowel.
- Let rise again until double in bulk.
- Set the oven to 350 (you do not need to preheat it) Cook for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.
- Carefully turn the hot bread out of the pan and onto a dishtowel on the counter.
- Thump the bottom with your finger.
- If it sounds hollow then it is done.
- If it doesn't sound hollow, then put it back into the pan and bake it some more.
- Allow the bread to cool down for a few minutes before slicing it.
- Note if you do not get good results with this recipe check your yeast for freshness and try again but increase your kneading time a bit.
white flour, salt, yeast, sugar, oil, warm water
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/beginners-bread-a-pantry-recipe-261210 (may not work)