Baking Bread

Today Momma baked some bread.  I got some awesome new bread pans from Sur La Table from my Daddy-O for Christmas.  I promised J.R. that I would bake him fresh bread, because who doesn't like homemade bread!

So first of all you need to get a BIG bowl, I got this fancy bowl from Andrea.  It's a FOOD NETWORK bowl!  WOOT!  :o)  They are heavy duty and they are deep.

Anyway...add your sugar to the bowl and pour in your water.  Stir it around til your sugar is completely dissolved.  Then add your yeast.  Let it sit til the yeast gets all creamy and foamy.  Like this...

When you get to that point add your oil and salt.  Stir it around good.  Add your flour 1 cup at a time stirring good in between.  It won't mix real good after you add the last cup, so pour it onto a floured surface and knead it til it's good and smooth.  Throw it in a well oiled bowl and roll it around til the entire ball is coated.  Place a damp towel over top of it and let it raise til it's doubled in size.  About 1 hour.  

While rising I played with my cute Coy...uh...maybe I should have folded the laundry instead.  Isn't he just cute?!  How do you like that bruise on his forehead?

 

And enjoyed my view out my front window...*sigh*

  Ok...back to business...once it's doubled take your frustrations out and punch that big heap of dough.  Knead it a little bit then cut it in half.  Form your loaves and place in 2, 9x5 loaf pans.  Cover and let them raise again til they are about 1 inch above the pan...like so.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  They come out looking like this.  

I'm sure you've seen prettier bread, but hey...it's my first time!  I think Grandma would be proud.  Now cut off a slice, add some butter, and some homemade jam...and there you have my Grandpa's favorite dessert...

Now take a big bite, and make sure you look like a goober like me!

I need to get Grandma's recipe for her homemade wheat bread and tackle that.  We'll see...

Here's the ingredients
2 c. warm water
2/3 c. white sugar
1 1/2 TBS. active dry yeast
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp. salt
6 c. bread flour

Mix warm water and sugar and stir til sugar is dissolved.  Add yeast and let sit til yeast is creamy and bubbly looking.  Then add your oil and salt, stir.  Add flour 1 cup at a time, stirring after each cup.  Put on floured surface and knead til smooth.  Put into oiled bowl and coat it in oil.  Cover with a damp towel, and let it rise til doubled in size, about an hour.  Punch dough and knead for a few minutes.  Cut in half and form into loaves.  Put in 2 greased 9x5 loaf pans.  Cover and let rise for about 30 minutes or until 1 inch above pans.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

*HUGS*