Tuesday - Baking Day . . .

 

Today I plan on getting some baking done, and finishing up a few projects that did not get done yesterday.  I feel like part of homemaking is puttering - I putter a lot!  Sometimes I run across little jobs that I otherwise would not get done right away,  like straightening a drawer re-decorating a shelf or table top or just cleaning things that otherwise get ignored for a while.   I'll bake a few loafs of bread and some rolls for supper to go with vegetable beef soup.  There is nothing better, or more satisfying than warm bread and hot soup - it just makes you feel good.  I think everyone should take some time to bake, even if it's just cookies or a cake.  Spending time in your kitchen, working with your hands and making something from scratch is very fulfilling.  My husband gave me The Tasha Tudor's Cookbook for Christmas and her white bread recipe is delightful - I'll share.

Tasha Tudor's White Bread

2 cups milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 sugar or 1 cup honey
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups water
11 cups unbleached flour, approximately
2 packages active dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water, 110 degrees F
1 teaspoon sugar or honey

Grease or oil four 5 X 9-inch loaf pans.  In a sauce pan, scald the milk, butter, sugar or honey, and salt.  Put the mixture in a very large bowl and add the water.  The add 1 cup or so of flour.  When the mixture is lukewarm, dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of water with just a pinch of sugar or honey.  Let sit for 5 minutes to proof.  When the yeast is foamy, add it to the milk mixture.

Add enough flour to make a nice workable dough and knead for 10 minutes.  Place in a very large well-greased bowl.  Turn once to coat the top, cover with a warm towel, and allow to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until double in bulk.  When the dough has risen, punch it down and repeat the process.

At the end of the second rising, punch down the dough and divide it into 4 loaves, making sure to smooth out any air bubbles place the loaves in the prepared pans, cover them with towels, and allow them to rise until nearly double, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  When the dough has almost doubled, bake the loaves in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour, or until they are crusty brown and sound hollow when tapped.  Remove the loaves from the pans and cool them on racks.  Makes 4 loafs.

Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts!  ~James Beard

Happy baking  - have a very blessed day,