crusty white bread

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons margarine, softened
• 6 cups bread flour
• 1 tablespoon salt

Recipe

Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Ready Time: 2 hrs 30 mins


• 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 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 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.