White Bread

Home-made bread is much easier than I ever thought. All you need is a wise, experienced baker (like my Mom) to explain how to do it! Here's what she told me and how I've been baking it ever since:

Ingredients:

10 cups white flour

2 tbsp yeast

6 tbsp sugar

4 tsp salt

4 tbsp shortening

2 cups milk

2 cups water

Place 4 cups of the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and shortening in mixer. Combine milk and water and microwave about 3 minutes until warm. Add to mixer. If your mixer can handle it, add the remaining 6 cups of flour all at once and then turn it on. If it can't, turn the mixer on and add the 6 cups of flour one at a time. When the dough is mixed, turn it out on a floured surface and knead until smooth. Cover and let rise 30 minutes. Divide into four balls and place each ball in a greased bread pan. Cover and let rise again 45 minutes. Bake 26-35 minutes at 350 degrees on the lowest rack of the oven.

You can be creative with this recipe. I've made it with partly whole wheat flour or partly spelt flour. I've also added Red River cereal (soaked in boiling water) for some crunchy interest.

Once baked, turned out of the pans and cooled, I store each loaf in the freezer to maintain the freshness.