52 Blessings (Week SEVEN): A Blessing For Each Week Of The Year

Number SEVEN:

Homemade Bread

I am so excited! On Saturday we had a Stake Women's Conference and one of the classes taught us how to make Homemade Bread. I'm not talking about using the bread machine (and not even for the dough cycle, which is what I normally do) but making it ALL by hand! I learned how to knead properly, let it rise, punch down, shape into loaves, let it rise again, and bake it, baby! I came home Saturday afternoon and made THREE LOAVES of delicious White Bread! I know my Mom was looking down from Heaven just so proud of me. You see, my Mom was a fantastic baker/cook and was great at homemade bread & rolls. She taught me how to do this when I was a teenager but I didn't pay very much attention then. The Thanksgiving before she died, I told her "okay, at Christmastime we are spending a day with you teaching me how to make your bread/rolls and pie crusts." Well, she passed away just 3 days before Christmas, so obviously that day did not happen. Yet, as I sliced and buttered the delicious homemade bread for my family, I was so proud and knew my Mom was saying, "Way to go Jaimee!" Below I've written the recipe from Chef Brad so you can all make it and have yummy homemade bread for your families, too! So good!

WHITE BREAD
By Chef Brad Petersen

Ingredients:

-2 1/2 cups hot water

-1/3 cup sugar

-1/4 cup veg. oil (Or butter, lard, or Crisco)

-2 tsp. salt

-1 1/2 Tbls. yeast, Saf instant yeast (sold at Smart & Final)

-5 cups + flour

In a bowl add the water, sugar, oil, salt, and 2 cups flour. Mix well with a spoon and add the yeast and 3 more cups flour. Mix well and then dump out on a floured surface. Start kneading by folding the closest edge to you away from you towards the furthest edge. With the ball of the hand, press the folded edge into the dough, turning the dough around as you complete the fold. Keep repeating the process adding flour as needed being careful not to add too much flour. After the dough is well kneaded, about 6-8 minutes, place in an oiled bowl and cover; let rise until doubled. Punch down and form into 2 loaves; let rise again until doubled. Bake in a 350 degree oven for approx 30 minutes. Butter the tops once out. Cool for 10 minutes and then take out of pan to cool on a wire rack. Delicious!

*For Whole Grain Bread: Substitute 3 cups of white flour with fresh ground whole wheat flour and let rise until doubled, twice, before forming into loaves.

*For Cinnamon Bread: Before placing in bread pans to bake, roll out each loaf and spread with cinnamon and sugar. Roll up into a loaf and place in an oiled pan and let rise until doubled. Continue with recipe.

*For Fry Bread: Divide the dough into small golf ball pieces and roll out on an oiled surface and fry in hot oil, flipping over and cooking both sides. Top with honey or powdered sugar or use for Navajo Tacos.