Basic White Bread Recipe

A basic white bread can be turned into many different things (sandwiches, croutons, french toast, stuffing, etc.: after its cooked and before it's cooked: dinner rolls, cinnamon raisin bread, pigs in a blanket, sweet rolls, etc. Here is a basic white bread recipe.

1 package yeast
1/2 cup of the dough starter you should all have in your refrigerator ;)
1 1/2 cups warm water (or milk if you like it richer)
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil or 1 stick melted butter
5-6cups flour (half bread and half all purpose)

Mix the first 6 ingredients together, then add just enough flour to make a workable dough. The wetter the dough, the lighter the bread. Knead for a couple of minutes. Then place in a greased bowl to rise 2 hrs. After this rise punch it down and fold the dought over itself a few times until you have created a ball. Let it rise 1 1/2 hrs. fold it over itself again. Let it rise an hour. now turn the dough out on a work surface and spit in half. Shape each half into a loaf trimming as necessary. plcace eact half on a greased loaf pan and let it rise until it is just over the surface of the pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 min. Cool on wire racks, out of the pan and enjoy. For info on shaping the loafs look at the next post.