Sunday, March 3, 2019

Best Bread Ever

Makes 2 large loaves, 3 medium loaves, or 1 large loaf and 2 mini loaves

Ingredients:
2 1/2 hot water
1/3 cup oil (I use olive oil)
1/3 cup sugar/honey (I fill my cup with oil first, empty it and then fill with honey so it doesn't stick as much)
1 TBSP salt
3/4 cup flour and about 5-7 cups flour (divided) I use bread flour, but can use all purpose or whole wheat flour (add more honey if using whole wheat, and rise longer)
1 1/2 TBSP yeast
Spray oil

1.  Whisk together in a large bowl: Water, oil, sugar/honey, and salt.  (I use my kitchen aid)
2.  Add: 3/4 cup flour and whisk for 30 seconds then yeast and whisk for 30 seconds more.
3.  Add 2-3 cups of flour and mix together with a spoon.  If using a mixer, add the rest of the flour.  The total flour should amount to about 5-7 cups---this does not include the flour used in step 2.  Let the mixer knead the dough for about 5 minutes plus (or knead by hand 10 minutes)
4.  Let rise in a clean, greased, covered bowl for about 30 minutes.  You can let it rise on the counter, (for about an hour) but it's even faster in the oven.  Set your oven to 450 degrees for a minute or less, then turn it off before placing the oven safe bowl inside.  (or microwave a cup a water for 2-3 minutes, then take it out, and set bowl with dough inside)
5.  When the dough has risen to double it's original size, remove from the oven and heat oven to 175 degrees
6.  Grease your bread pans and the counter with spray oil.  Divide the dough.
7.  Roll out the dough with a rolling pin into a long oblong shape.  Roll it out until all air bubbles are gone.
8.  Roll a tight cylinder, tuck the ends under or squish them and place it in a greased bread pan.  Repeat with remaining dough.
9.  Place loaves in warm oven (no more than 175 degrees) for about 1/2 hour or until the dough has risen to fill the pan.  take bread out of the oven to preheat

Turn the oven up to 350 degrees and cook for about 20-25 minutes.  Turn out onto a wire rack and rub a cube of butter over the top.  Let cool and slice.