Bread is a must for almost every meal and we consume it daily. It was industrialized in the 20th century and at the expense of taste and nutrition chemical additives are added to speed up the mixing time and reduce necessary fermentation time.
All kinds of bread can be found in supermarkets nowadays and it is important to always check the ingredients list to make the right purchasing decision. Normaly, a healthy bread needs a few ingredients. But before its industrialisation, bread was easily made in households and maybe some of you have memories from childhood when staying around our grandmothers in the kitchen while they were making bread.
Choosing to bake your own bread at home can be a way to be sure you are having a quality bread on your table and that fantastic aroma in your house after it is freshly taken out from the oven.
Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 2-1/4 cups warm water
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 6-1/4 to 6-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
Preparations
1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough.
2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours.
3. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in two greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 30-45 minutes.
4. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
