Homemade bread recipe

November 17, 8:23 AMSalt Lake City Parenting ExaminerRachael Lever

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November 17, 2008 is Homemade Bread Day. Who knew? What a great thing to celebrate.

Homemade bread is the be all end all of good smells. If I were house hunting, and I smelled bread baking, I'd probably buy the house right then and there.

The great thing about making bread is that you not only get to eat the end result, but you get to exercise, and get your hands dirty in the bargain. If you've never made bread, and kneaded it for the full ten minutes with your hands, you are missing out. There is something about pushing that warm lump of dough around, punching it, and rolling it. kneading it with your whole body that just makes you happy. I think it's a natural stress reliever. Maybe it's that delicious yeasty smell, or the working with your hands. Whatever it is, I recommend it for health and happiness.

You may have to fight with your kids for rights to knead, so if I were you, I'd pinch off a little piece for each set of little hands, and let them knead away too. It can be a family affair.

And to get you started, here is my recipe, from my kitchen to yours. Enjoy.

Homemade Bread

6-7 cups flour (use all white, all wheat, or a mixture)
2 cups warm water
2 T dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1 T salt
2 eggs
1/4 c. vegetable or canola oil

Dissolve sugar in warm water, and sprinkle with yeast. Let stand about 5 minutes. Add salt and three cups flour. Mix together. Add eggs and oil. Stir in three more cups flour, until you are able to handle the dough. Turn out onto floured surface. Now is your chance to go for it. Get into it. Work up a sweat. Knead dough for about ten minutes, adding flour as needed to prevent sticking. If you are using all wheat you will probably need less. Return dough to bowl, cover and let rise in a warm area until double, about one hour. Punch dough down, and divide into two loaves. Place in well greased loaf pans and let raise until double again, about 1/2 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Butter tops if desired and let cool. I usually take it out of the pan after about ten minutes.