Simplicity Bread

From "100 Loaves - Breadmaking as Meditation". The annotations in italics are mine.

Ingredients

• 1 tbs Instant yeast

• 2½ cups Warm whole milk

• 6-7 cups Unbleached flour. I use King Arthur's bread flour.

• 1 tsp Table salt

• 4 tbs Sugar. Honey is also good.

• 1 cup melted butter

Preparation

Dissolve the yeast into the warm milk and add 2 cups of the flour. Wait until bubbles form, indicating the yeast is working.

Add the salt, sugar, melted butter, and 4 cups of the unbleached flour.

Turn onto a floured surface and knead 8-10 minutes, adding additional unbleached flour to make a smooth, firm loaf.

Place in a greased bowl, turning once, cover and allow to rise in a warm place for one hour.

Punch down the dough, and allow to rest for ten minutes. Form the dough into two loaves and place into 9”x5” bread pans that have been greased and floured.

Cover and allow the loaves to rise in a warm place for one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Bake the loaves for 45 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown.

Remove the loaves from the pans, and cool on racks.

Additional Information

This bread is especially good for sandwiches, toasting, and grilled cheese.

•	1 tbs	Instant yeast
•	2½ cups	Warm whole milk
•	6-7 cups	Unbleached flour. I use King Arthur's bread flour.
•	1 tsp	Table salt
•	4 tbs	Sugar. Honey is also good.
•	1 cup	melted butter

	Dissolve the yeast into the warm milk and add 2 cups of the flour. Wait until bubbles form, indicating the yeast is working.
	Add the salt, sugar, melted butter, and 4 cups of the unbleached flour.
	Turn onto a floured surface and knead 8-10 minutes, adding additional unbleached flour to make a smooth, firm loaf.
	Place in a greased bowl, turning once, cover and allow to rise in a warm place for one hour.
	Punch down the dough, and allow to rest for ten minutes. Form the dough into two loaves and place into 9”x5” bread pans that have been greased and floured.
	Cover and allow the loaves to rise in a warm place for one hour.
	Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Bake the loaves for 45 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown.
	Remove the loaves from the pans, and cool on racks.