Bread Recipe

I made some bread yesterday that was super easy to make and tasted great. I don't have a fancy Kitchen-aid or anything and it still turned out great. I used the rapid rise yeast method and included some of my own seasonings at the end. I posted it for my family in our recipe blog but told a few others I would also post it here. I included all the variations you can use. You can find more bread recipes at breadworld.com. I hope you enjoy making it and eating it as much as I did. Happy baking!!

This basic recipe can take on a life of its own. Many bread variations are possible from these easy first steps. Directions for using either Active Dry OR RapidRise Yeast are included.

Master Bread Dough

6 to 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 envelopes FLEISCHMANN'S RapidRise OR Active Dry Yeast  
2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter OR margarine

Directions

If using RapidRise Yeast:

In large bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt. Heat water, milk and butter until very warm (120° to 130°F). Gradually add mixture to dry ingredients; beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/2 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl occasionally.

With spoon, stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Cover and let dough rest 10 minutes. Divide dough in half.

Roll each half into a 12 x 7-inch rectangle. Beginning at short end, roll up tightly as for jelly roll. Pinch seam and ends to seal. Place, side down in greased 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 inch loaf pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes or until thermometer. registers 190°F to 200°F in center of bread. If a thermometer is not available, bread is done when well browned and sounds hollow when top of loaf is tapped lightly with finger tip.

Makes 2 loaves.

If using Active Dry Yeast:

Combine water, milk and butter; heat until warm (100° to 110°F). Add sugar and yeast; let stand 5 minutes. Add 2-1/2 cups flour and salt; beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/2 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl occasionally.

With spoon, stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Place kneaded dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover, let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

Punch dough down. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half.

Roll each half into a 12 x 7-inch rectangle. Beginning at short end, roll up tightly as for jelly roll. Pinch seam and ends to seal. Place, seam side down in greased 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 inch loaf pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes or until thermometer. registers 190°F to 200°F in center of bread. If a thermometer is not available, bread is done when well browned and sounds hollow when top of loaf is tapped lightly with finger tip.

Makes 2 loaves.

VARIATION:

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD: Replace 1 to 3 cups all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.

SOFT HERB BREADSTICKS (use 1/2 of dough): Divide dough into 12 equal pieces; roll each to 15-inch rope. Twist each rope several times, if desired. Place on 2 greased baking sheets. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until risen slightly, about 10 to 20 minutes. Lightly beat 1 egg white; brush over breadsticks. Sprinkle with herbs or herb blends such as oregano, dill weed, Italian herb seasoning, or fines herbs. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes or until done. Remove from sheets; let cool on wire racks. Makes 1 dozen rolls.

FOCACCIA (use 1/2 of dough): Grease 15- x 10-inch pan. Roll dough to rectangle and press evenly into pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until slightly risen, about 20 to 40 minutes. With handle of wooden spoon, make indentations in dough at 1-1/2-inch intervals. Brush dough with 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons SPICE ISLANDS Rosemary and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes or until done. Let cool on wire rack. Cut into squares. Makes 1 focaccia.

DINNER ROLLS (use 1/2 of dough): Divide dough into 12 equal pieces; shape dough into smooth balls. Place balls, about 2 inches apart, on large greased baking sheet.

Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 to 45 minutes. Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water; brush over rolls. If desired, sprinkle with SPICE ISLANDS Sesame Seed or Poppy Seed. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes or until done. Remove from sheet; let cool on wire rack.

HEARTH BRAID (use 1/2 of dough): Divide dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece to 16-inch rope. On greased baking sheet, braid 3 ropes together; pinch ends to seal.

Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 to 90 minutes. Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water; brush over braid. Sprinkle with SPICE ISLANDS® Sesame Seed or Poppy Seed. Bake at 400^oF for 25 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; let cool on wire rack. Makes 1 braid.

Some new pics

I don't have a ton of time to write but we wanted to let everyone know that we're alive and well. Gideon has been keeping us pretty busy. He's finally getting some teeth in and, of course, he has to do that his own way, also. His 2 front bottom ones are just about through and so are his 2 top eye teeth. Yes, we have a little vampire. Or hillbilly, whichever you like to think. The worst of the nights were just passing when he decided to get croup again. It's never fun to be woken up in the middle of the night with your baby sounding like a seal. He's just about over it but I think now he has a cold. Poor little guy just can't catch a break. The silver lining of sickness is that he wants to be cuddly.

Gideon has also discovered how to turn on and off the TV. This gets really annoying when we're trying to watch a show and all the sudden you see a little head appear in front of the TV and then the TV goes off. He turns off and on the light switches, too. He crawls right over all his toys to get to the things he likes to play with most. That being...anything else.
I thought I would go ahead and post a few pics of what he's been doing over the last month or so.

This is what Gideon does while I'm cooking, doing dishes or anything else in the kitchen. These are "his" 2 drawers and he goes for them first thing when he gets in the kitchen. I'm constantly picking up bottles and lids. Sometimes he'll even reach for the third shelf. As if he didn't have enough to pull out with the bottom two.

This is right before his first little haircut. We only cut his bangs because they were getting too long. I couldn't bring myself to give him a big boy cut yet.

I still almost cried because he looked older. Not the best job, I know, but little boys are very wiggly.

One day I was doing dishes and Gideon was playing with his drawers. When I turned around to put something in the dishwasher I found this. I had no idea he know how to climb up into the machine. Now whenever I do dishes he pulls all the silverware out. He thinks it's hilarious and laughs while he's doing it. Then when they're all out on the floor he looks at me with a big smile like he's so proud of himself. Maybe if I lay all the silverware on the floor he'll put them in the basket. I'll have to try that next time.

He is such a fun kid and is learning new things everyday. He's starting to stand by himself for about 5-10 seconds and will walk while only holding onto one of our hands. I don't think I'm ready for a walker yet but this kid isn't slowing down. He amazes me everyday and we have so much fun. Oh, he's also learned to "dance". Whenever he hears music he shakes his little booty and we have to laugh every time. His favorite it the MASH theme song, don't ask me why. I'll try to get a video of it on here soon.