White Bread - from Joy of Cooking


  White Bread: Joy of Cooking Cookbook

    Ingredients:

    ** Have all ingredients at about 75°
  • Dissolve 1 package of yeast ( I use 1 tablespoon of yeast) in a small bowl
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar
  • 1/2 cup 85° warm water (I use warm water from the tap
  • Let it stand in a warm place for about 10 minutes

    ** In a large bowl/container
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/2 cup melted lard or shortening
  • 2 cups of lukewarm water ( I changed this to 2-1/2 cups for the type of flour I'm using )
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons of salt
  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • add yeast mixture from small bowl

  instructions:

Add to the large bowl:

8 cups of Sifted - all purpose flour.

To Mix:

Beat, knead and shape dough.
Allow dough to rise in mixing bowl once and once again in a baking pan.

  baking instructions:

To bake

Place the loaves in a cold oven.
Turn the heat to 400°
After 15 minutes - reduce heat to 375° and bake for another 25 minutes.

To harden crust - put a pan of warm water in the oven during baking.
Also brushing the bread with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of water when the bread is partially baked will harden the crust.

Makes:

Three 5x9 inch Loaves