Homemade White Bread

Ok. so my good friend Devynn bakes fresh bread EVERY few days! It always looks and smells so delicious in her house, I decided why not give it a try? If I could bake bread for pennies instead of buying it, I might as well try.

Here's the recipe from Devynn's blog. (You can find the original link HERE). I was shocked that I got it right on the first try! Even without a rolling pin or loaf pan. LOL. It is DELICIOUS!

Basic White Bread

1/2 cup milk
3 TBSP sugar
2 tsp salt
3 TBSP marg. or butter
2 pkgs active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (105 - 115 F)
5 - 6 cups all purpose flour

Place milk, sugar, salt and butter in small saucepan. Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool to lukewarm. (I find that if I dissolve the sugar and salt in the milk and then add the butter, it melts the butter and cools quicker - less waiting).

Dissolve yeast in warm water in mixer bowl. Add milk mixture and 4 1/2 cups flour. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Mix about 1 min. on speed 2.

Cont. on speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 c. at a time, and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl, about 2 min. Knead onspeed 2 about 2 min. longer, or until dough is smooth and elastic.

Dough will be slightly sticky to the touch. Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour or until doubled on bulk.

Punch dough down and divide in half. Roll each half into a rectangleapprox. 9 x 14". Roll the dough from the short end. Pinch at ends to seal the seams. Place dough seam side down in loaf pan. Cover. Let rise about 1 hour.

Bake at 400 F until golden brown - about 30 minutes (my oven only takes about 21 minutes). Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

I sometimes use up to 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour and substitute 3tbsp ground flax for 1 tbsp butter.