Baking Bread

On a cold winter day there is nothing better than the smell of homemade bread baking in the oven. However, it is not always easy to find the time to bake bread. I have a recipe that is so quick and easy it makes bread baking possible for even busy days. Monday I used this recipe to make homemade hamburger buns for sloppy joes. I started making the bread at 5:02 and had dinner on the table by 6:34, with the cinnamon rolls ready to come out of the oven as we finished eating. I even had to make my own sloppy joe sauce. My family said it was the best sloppy joes we have had, and the cinnamon rolls were the perfect dessert.
So here is my secret recipe . . .

Easy White Bread

6 – 6 ½ cups flour
3 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. Rapid Rise Yeast
2 tsp. salt
1 ½ cups water
½ cup milk
2 Tbs. butter or margarine

Combine 4 cups flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt in large mixing bowl. Heat water, milk, and butter until very warm (120 to 130 degrees); stir into dry ingredients. Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Divide dough in half, shape into loaves, and place in greased loaf pans. Cover; let rise in warm, draft free place until double in size, about 30 minutes. Bake at 400 for 20 to 30 minutes, or until done. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.

Happy Bread Baking!