Last Saturday, my wonderful sister-in-law, Wendi, invited several of us family members over to learn to make bread. We ground the wheat with a hand grinder (several of the guys helped), and kneaded the dough by hand too. It was great for my girls because I wanted them to experience all of this from a great teacher. Maybe some of you can do this with your nieces, daughters, sisters, and sister-in-laws as well!
Plain Old BreadMakes 6 loaves
1 cube margarine or butter melted (in microwave)
6 c. warm water
½ c. sugar
4 T instant yeast (SAF)
2 T. salt
1. Melt the butter and then just add the other ingredients including the instant yeast in a large bowl. I just stir all these ingredients together until they are somewhat dissolved.
2. Add 10 c. flour (I used 4-5 C of the fresh ground white wheat and the balance regular flour) stir to moisten flour.
3. Dump 4 more cups flour onto the counter; dump the dough on top of it, and knead. You know you have kneaded it long enough when all of the flour is mixed in.
4. Return to large plastic bowl. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise until double.
5. Punch down to get all of the air out.
6. Roll into loaves and put in 6 greased regular loaf pans.
7. Cover with dishcloth again and let rise until double. (Hint-I usually have better luck if it’s not rising on granite. I put a dishtowel under it for added warmth).
8. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Take out and dump onto a dishtowel until cool.
You have no idea how thankful I am to have all of this information!! Huge sigh of relief! Beth