Homemade Bread

 As many of you may have guessed, our family is not exactly what you'd call "rich".  Rich in love, rich in chaos...yes...but money is just not something we have a whole lot of and when we get it you can be sure it disappears very quickly.

Today is one of the two dreaded days of the month for military families; the day before payday.  This is a day of empty cabinets and empty wallets, a day when the children are sure to be more hungry than usual and I'm left contemplating how good rice and ketchup might taste together (not that good, I decided). 

I had some hamburgers in the freezer but wasn't going to make them because we are out of bread and let's face it, a hamburger without bread is just...incomplete.  Then I realized that I may not have bread, but I have everything I need to MAKE bread! 

The children were amazed and thrilled as I mixed ingredients together to make the dough.  My 5 year old exclaimed "WOW Mommy, you know how to make bread all by yourself?"  Apparently this is one item I need to make from scratch on a more regular basis since my children obviously thought the grocery store was the only place you could get it.  I make enough pizza dough, however, because as soon as I started kneading the dough they all yelled "Are you making pizza Mommy?" 

 Two hours later and we had a finished product.  It came out PERFECT and the kids obviously loved it because they wouldn't stop saying so and there's barely any left out of TWO loaves already.  I am almost certain it will be gone before the end of the day.  The picture is of the final result (before being devoured) and I included the recipe in case anyone else wants to try it!

 Quick White Bread Recipe

About 5 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 packages (4 1/2 teaspoons) instant (or quick-RapidRise) yeast
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups total of milk or water
   or use the following:
   1 1/4 cups milk (or 1 1/2 cup)
  1 cup water (or 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons shortening

In a mixing bowl, combine 3 cups flour, salt, and undissolved yeast.  Heat milk and/or water, sugar, and shortening until warm (120 to 130 degrees  F.).  Add heated liquid mixture to flour mixture and mix with a spoon until combined.  Add 1 cup of flour at a time (3/4 cup the last time) and mix.  Knead for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.  Divide dough in half.  Cover and let rest for about 10 minutes.  Knead for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.   Divide dough in half.  Cover and let rest for about 10 minutes.  (If the dough way to sticky to handle, add a little bit of flour.)  Make a loaf shape and tuck edges underneath.  Place loaves in 2 slightly greased or sprayed loaf pans.  Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 40 minutes or until nearly doubled.  Bake in a preheated 375 degree F. oven for about 25 to 35 minutes until loaves are brown (but not overbrowned).  (It should sound hollow when tapped.)  Remove from loaf pans immediately and let cool on a wire rack. Makes 2 loaves.

Note: If the dough is way to sticky to handle, add a little bit of flour.

Copyright © 2001-2003 Barbara Pratt. All rights reserved.

 *I found the dough to be way too sticky with only 5 3/4 cups of flour so I just added more while kneading until it was nice and elastic.  I also used water because I am out of milk and it still tastes really good.  I imagine it would probably be better with the milk but certainly not necessary!