Do You Need Some Dough?

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

By Katie Martin  Life has been hard on all of us. We try to figure out little things to make our life simpler and better. Homemade bread is one of those things. Contrary to what most people think, breadmaking is both easy and fun. Making bread allows us to control the price and quality of our bread.  

Next time the store is out of bread, you just smile. After all, you will know how to make your own.  

I always use name-brand or local mill flour. I never use generic or store brands. To me, the bread is better. In some cases, the bread won’t rise as much. It might seem heavy. The fresher the flour, the better. So, if you have access to local mill flour, using it will improve the taste of your homemade bread.  

The yeast I use is regular yeast, NOT quick or fast acting. You can buy several packages together at a reasonable price.  

Do NOT try to shorten the time the bread needs to rise. The bread will not turn out as well.  

Simple White Bread  

This homemade bread is just simple white bread.  

One of the things I learned during the pandemic was flour was in short supply. I also learned different stores had different flours available. So, the first bread was made with BREAD flour.   

Yield 2 loaves  

• 5 to 6 cups BREAD flour  
• 3 tablespoons sugar  
• 1 teaspoon salt  
• 2 packages active dry yeast  
• 2 cups water  
• 1/4 cup melted butter  

1. Grease or spray two 8 by 4 inch or two 9 by 5 inch loaf pans. Use a little of the melted butter to do this. Brush on or use a paper towel to cover inside of each loaf pan.  
2. Sprinkle inside of each pan with flour.  
3. Mix 5 cups BREAD flour, then sugar, salt, and yeast in a large bowl.  
4. Heat water and melted butter together.  
5. Add water and butter to flour mixture.  
6. Stir and mix together until dough pulls away from bowl.  
7. Flour the surface you will be using (countertop, cutting board, etc.)  
8. Knead dough using your hands. Move it towards you and then back. Keep kneading for about 10 minutes.  
9. Butter the bowl.  
10. Place dough in bowl.  
11. Cover with plastic wrap. Then, cover with towel.  
12. Put in warm place to rise for approximately 1 1/2 hours. Bread should double in size.  
13. Knead dough again a few times. Divide into two separate parts. Roll each part into a ball.  
14. Place on floured board or counter. Cover with inverted bowl.  
15. Allow dough to rest 15 minutes.  
16. Knead dough again. Shape each ball into a loaf.  
17. Place in greased or sprayed pans.  
18. Cover. Wait 1 hour or until loaves have risen to top of pan or more.  
19. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  
20. Cook 45 to 55 minutes. Loaves will sound hollow when tapped.  
21. When loaves are done, immediately take out of pans.  

Melted butter can be brushed on top if desired.  

Cook’s Notes: Bread cuts better when cool.  

Bread freezes well. Cut loaf into pieces before freezing.  

Country White Bread 

Our next bread is a Country White Bread. It is made with ALL-PURPOSE flour.  

If you know how to make bread with different flour, you can use whatever is available.  

Yield 2 loaves  

• 2 packages active dry yeast  
• 2 cups warm water  
• 1 teaspoon salt  
• 2 eggs, room temperature   
• 1/4 cup butter  
• 6 1/2 – 7 cups of ALL-PURPOSE flour  

1. Grease or spray two 8 by 4 inch or 9 by 5 inch loaf pans. Use a little of the melted butter to do this.  
2. Brush on or use a paper towel to cover the inside of each loaf pan.  
3. Sprinkle the inside of each pan with flour.  
4. Dissolve yeast in water.  
5. Add sugar, salt, eggs, butter, and 3 cups ALL-PURPOSE flour.  
6. Beat.  
7. Add more flour until soft dough forms.  
8. Knead.  
9. Place in greased bowl.  
10. Turn the dough in bowl to grease top of dough.  
11. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a towel.   
12. Let rise in warm place for 1 hour.  
13. Divide into 2 pieces. Shape each piece into a loaf.  
14. Place in greased loaf pans.  
15. Cover and let rise again, 1 hour.  
16. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven 25 to 30 minutes.  

When loaves are done, immediately take out of pans.  

Melted butter can be brushed on top, if desired.  

Beer Bread 

The third homemade bread is a little different. It is made with SELF-RISING flour. So, you have three breads made with three different types of flour. This bread is easy. It does not involve yeast. It can also be made right away. You do not have to wait for it to rise.  

Yield 1 loaf  

• 3 cups SELF-RISING flour  
• 3 tablespoons sugar  
• 4 tablespoons butter  
• 12 ounces regular beer  

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  
2. Butter or spray 9 by 5 inch loaf pan.  
3. Mix SELF-RISING flour, sugar, 3 tablespoons of butter, and the beer together.  
4. Stir until almost smooth. It will have some lumps.  
5. Put the batter in the loaf pan.  
6. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon butter on top.  
7. Bake 45 to 50 minutes.  
8. Wait 5 minutes before taking bread out of pan.  
9. Let cool before slicing (if you can wait).  

So, now you have three different recipes with three different flours. As you bake bread, you will relax. It is a wonderful way to end a stressful day. You are empowering yourself to have a simpler life. Remember, breadmaking is easy. It just takes time.  

Mmmmm.  

A day in KATIE MARTIN’S life begins with a vigilant eye and an open mind to the many stories that lay behind the daily events of people, places and things. A well-published writer with an appetite for life, Katie brings a warm glow to ordinary things … making them extraordinary! Katie and her husband, live in the Sauratown Mountains of North Carolina.