White Bread Plus Uncle Danny Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Pour milk in a heatproof bowl, and gently warm in a microwave oven set on Low until milk is about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C), about 15 seconds. Mix in the sugar and honey, and stir to dissolve. Mix in the yeast, and let stand until the yeast activates and forms a creamy layer on the milk, about 15 minutes.
• Place 4 cups of bread flour and the salt into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer; pour in the yeast mixture, and mix on slow speed with a mixing paddle until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute; dough will be very wet. Add the butter, and mix in the remaining 2 cups of bread flour, or as needed, until the dough begins to gather itself into a ball. Change the fitting from the mixing paddle to a dough hook, and machine-knead the dough until smooth and springy, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the dough onto a well-floured work surface, and knead until you see the surface of the dough begin to break during folding and kneading. Roll dough into a ball, and place into a lightly floured large bowl. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel, and set into a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Spray 2 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
• Punch down the dough, remove to the floured surface, and knead for 2 more minutes; cut the dough in half with a sharp knife. Form the dough into logs, adding more flour if necessary, and place the loaves into the sprayed pans. Cover the pans with a kitchen towel, and place into a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 more hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place the bread loaves into the preheated oven, and turn the heat down to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake until the tops are golden brown and the loaves make a hollow sound when thumped, about 25 minutes. Cool the pans on baking racks for about 5 minutes before turning the bread loaves out to finish cooling on racks. Cover the loaves with a kitchen towel as they cool.

Steps:

• 1. Whisk flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Add water, beer, and vinegar. Using a rubber spatula, fold the mixture, scraping up dry flour from the bottom of the bowl until a rough ball forms. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 8 to 18 hours.
• 2. Lay 12- by 18-inch sheet of parchment paper inside a 10-inch skillet and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer dough to lightly floured work surface and knead 10 to 15 times. Shape dough into a ball by pulling edges into middle. Transfer dough, seam-side down, to parchment lined skillet and spray surface of dough with nonstick cooking spray. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until dough has doubled in size and does not readily spring back when poked with finger, about 2 hours.
• 3. About 30 minutes prior to baking, place 6- to 8-quart heavy bottomed Dutch oven (with lid) on rack (in lowest position), and heat oven to 500 degrees. Lightly flour top of dough and, using a very sharp knife, make one 6-inch long, 1/2-inch deep slit along top of dough. Carefully remove pot from oven and remove lid. Pick up dough by lifting parchment overhang and lower into pot (let any excess parchment hang over the edge of pot). Cover pot and place into oven. Reduce oven temperature to 425 degrees and bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove lid and continue to bake until loaf is deep brown and instant-read thermometer registers 210 degrees from the center of the loaf, 20 to 30 minutes more. Carefully remove bread from pot; transfer to wire rack and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.
• 4. The bread is best eaten the day it is baked, but can be wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in a cool, dry place for up to 2 days.
• 5. OLIVES, ROSEMARY AND PARMESAN BREAD: add 4 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese (2 cups) and 1 tablespoon minced, fresh rosemary leaves to the flour mixture in step 1. Add 1/2 cup pitted, chopped, green olives with the water in step 1.
• 6. SEEDED RYE BREAD: replace 1 3/8 cups all-purpose flour with 1 1/8 cup rye flour. Add 2 tablespoons caraway seeds to flour mixture in step 1.
• 7. WHOLE WHEAT BREAD: replace 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 cup whole wheat flour. Stir 2 tablespoons honey into water before adding it to the dry ingredients in step 1.
• 8. CRANBERRY-PECAN BREAD: add 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup toasted pecan halves to flour mixture in step 1.

Steps:

• Combine yeast, 1/2 C water (105-115 degrees) and 1 t. sugar in bowl and allow to proof. (Until foamy, approximately 5 minutes, or about 10 for standard yeast.).
• Add egg, melted (but not hot) lard, salt and remaining sugar and water (105-115 degrees).
• Add 4 cups flour and beat (with a spoon or mixer) for one minute. Stir in remaining flour one cup at a time, until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and can be handled.
• Turn out on a floured surface and knead until dough is smooth and pliable, about 10 minutes .
• Shape into a ball and place into a greased mixing bowl.
• Turn dough over so greased side is on top, cover with a tea towel and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
• (Approx. 1-1 1/2 hours for rapid rise yeast, 2 hours or so for standard yeast.) Punch dough down, turn it over in the bowl, and allow to rise again until almost doubled in size.
• Punch down and shape into 3 large loaves, or (I prefer) 4 braided loaves.
• (Cut dough into 12 equal pieces, roll each into a long rope and braid them into 4 loaves.) Allow loaves to rise.
• Brush with egg wash (1 egg, 1 t. sugar, 1 t. water) or milk, if desired, and sprinkle with Aunt Jane's salt.
• Bake in 375°F oven for approximately 17 minutes. (braids) or 30-40 minutes (loaves) until brown on the outside and sounds hollow when tapped.

Steps:

• 1. In mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 c. lukewarm water. Add 1 T sugar. Let stand 45 minutes
• 2. To yeast mixture, add egg, vegetable oil, 2 c. lukewarm water, and salt. Mix until well combined
• 3. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, to 7 cups
• 4. Continue adding flour from 8th cup until dough is workable
• 5. Turn out onto floured surface and knead 10 minutes until smooth and springy
• 6. Place in well-greased bowl and allow to rise until doubled (1-1.5 hours)
• 7. Punch down dough and fold edges under. Allow to rise again until doubled (45 min or so)
• 8. Remove dough from bowl and divide into 3 equal pieces. Form into loaves and place in well-greased loaf pans
• 9. Allow to rise until doubled in size (30 min or so)
• 10. Place loaves in cold oven and set oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes.
• 11. Reduce oven temperature for 375 degrees and bake 15-30 minutes longer, until loaves are nicely browned on top and sound hollow when tapped.
• 12. Remove loaves from oven and brush with melted butter if desired. Allow to cool on rack

Steps:

• In mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 c. lukewarm water. Add sugar. Let stand 45 minutes
• Beat in egg, vegetable oil, 2 c. water and salt.
• Gradually add flour up to 7 cups, and additional as needed to make dough workable
• Turn out dough onto floured surface and knead for 10 minutes
• Place in well-greased bowl and allow to rise until doubled
• Punch down, fold under edges, and allow to rise again until doubled
• Divide dough into 3 parts and shape into oblong loaves. Please in well-greased loaf pans and let rise until doubled
• Place loaves in cold oven, and set oven for 400 degrees. Bake 15 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake 15-30 minutes, until loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
• Removes loaves from oven and brush with melted butter if desired.

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the milk, the butter or margarine, 4 cups of the flour and the salt; stir until well combined. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Mist loaves with water and bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown and the bottom of a loaf sounds hollow when tapped.