Bread making

Bread making may seem hard at first but the more you do it, you no longer even think about it when your making it. Most people now will use a bread maker ( I am one of them) but there are many breads that can't be made in a bread maker, you need to do it by hand.
For most people starting to make bread I would always say start with french bread, its a easy bread to make and you really cant mess it up as long as you follow the steps. Super easy and its a great basic recipe to add items to it once you get better at the art of bread making.

Tips on bread making:
1.  Make sure you are using the right yeast.  There are many different ones out there so make sure to look at them first.  This one is also for bread machines there is a yeast for bread machines so make sure to use it.
2.  When getting the yeast ready, make sure the water is warm not hot or cold, warm.  If the water is to hot it kills the yeast, if its to cold the yeast will not cook.
3.  It may seem funny but it is true.  If your house is to cold or to hot even if its humid in the house the bread may not come out right.  In the summer months i will try to wait in till dust to make bread and in the winter I use the fireplace to rise the dough.  I place it on top with a towel but if you have a wood stove I would place it in the back on the floor. Or you can turn your oven on to 150 for 15 mins then turn it off then place in inside.
4.  Do not over knead the dough, it will become a hard loaf of bread,also do not under knead the bread you will not get all the air bubbles and flour flour worked out.  When the dough is soft and no longer sticks to your hands it will normally be done kneading.
5.  When kneading the dough do not use lots of flour this will make a hard loaf of bread due to too much flour.  only use enough to make the dough not to sticky.  What I do is when adding the last 1-1/2 cups of flour I start to knead it and finish adding the flour that way to make sure I do not add to much flour.
6.  Follow the steps to a T until you have a better feel for bread making.  It will make things go easier.

Now on to the recipe:

French Bread

2-3 loaves

2 1/12 cups hot water
2 tablespoons shortening
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons instant yeast
6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour


1. Place hot water in large bowl.
2. Add the shortening, salt and sugar.
3. Stir and let stand until lukewarm.
4. Sprinkle yeast over all.
5. Beat until smooth.
6. Add 3 cups flour and beat until mixed.
7. Work in 2 cups flour with a wooden spoon.
8. Gradually knead the last 1 1/12 cups flour in until no longer sticky ( about 3 minutes)
9. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
10. Punch down and place on a floured board.
11. Roll out to a rectangle.
12. Cut lengthwise in half.
13. with each strip, roll up lengthwise and pinch seams.
14. Roll gently back and forth with hands to desired length and to smooth loaf out.
15. Lightly grease cookie sheet or use french loaf bread pans.
16. Cover and let rise for 25 minutes.
17. Cut diagonal slashes across bread about 1/4" deep
18. Preheat oven, pour boiling water on lager cookie sheet to fill.
19. Place cookie sheet on bottom rack in oven.
20. Brush loaves with warm water and place bread on higher rack in oven above water
21. Bake at 350 F for 30-35 minutes.


When the bread is done and you want to check,  knock on the bottom of  the loaf it will sound hollow.
Place on a wire cooling rack and cover with towel to allow it to cool down slowly.

Don't be bummed if the first few loaves don't turn out keep trying you will get it.  This bread makes great garlic bread and works for sandwich bread too.

Happy bread making

Let me know how your loaves turned out!!!!