Easy Yeast Bread With Variations

Ingredients

• 5 1/2-7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 (1/2 ounce) packages dry yeast (1 Tbsp = 1 Pkg)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup cooking oil
• 2 eggs, beaten

Directions

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   WHITE BREAD: (Basic Recipe).

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   Lightly spooning flour into measuring cup & leveling off, measure out 2 1/2 cups flour. Combine flour, dry yeast, sugar, & salt in a large mixer bowl; blend.

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   In a medium saucepan, combine water, milk, and oil; heat until very warm (120 to 130F).

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   Add eggs and liquid to flour mixture.

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   MIXING - Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. With a wooden spoon, stir in an additional 3 to 3-1/2 cups of flour to form a sticky dough. In bowl or on a floured board, gradually work in 1/2 to 1-1/2 cups more flour, kneading or working in with hands until dough is smooth, pliable and no longer sticky (about 5 minutes).

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   RISING - place dough in a greased bowl; cover with a cloth or loose fit lid. Let rise in a warm place until light and double in size, about 45 minutes.

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   SHAPING & BAKING:Punch down dough to remove air bubbles; divide dough into two parts. From dough into desired shapes; place in greased pans according to Shaping and Baking directions (follows). Cover, let rise in a warm place until light and doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Bake at 375*F according to shape until loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped. Immediately remove from pans; cool.

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   (If loaf becomes too brown, cover with tin foil during last 10 minutes of baking.).

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   WHOLE WHEAT BREAD - (Basic Recipe).

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    Follow white bread recipe. After beating with mixer, stir in 3 cups of Whole Wheat flour in stead of white, knead in 3/4 to 1-1/4 cups white flour.

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    MEDIUM RYE BREAD - (Basic Recipe).

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    Follow White Bread recipe. After beating with mixer, stir in 3 cups medium rye flour instead of white flour. Knead in 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 cups white flour (rye flour dough usually remains slightly sticky). Rye dough should not completely double in size. Add 1 Tbsp freshly crushed Caraway Seeds with rye flour.

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    NOTES: At high altitudes (5000 feet plus) - after first rising, punch down dough and then allow to rise a second time in the bowl. Decrease the first (and second) rising periods by 15 minutes each.

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    INGREDIENT VARIATIONS. (may be used in any of the above basic bread recipes). Ingredients stirred in are added with the flour as it is stirred inches.

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    HONEY/MOLASSES: substitute 1/4 cup for sugar. Reduce milk to 3/4 cup.

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    BROWN SUGAR: substitute 1/4 cup (firmly packed) for the white sugar.

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    ROLLED OATS: stir in 1/2 cup.

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    WHEAT GERM: stir in 1/2 cup.

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    CHEESE: stir in 1 cup shredded Cheddar, American, Monterey Jack or Swiss cheese.

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    HERBS & SPICES: stir in 1/4 to 1/2 tsp celery seed or dill weed, or 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning, or 2 Tbsp minced chives, caraway or sesame seeds.

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    ONION: stir in 1/2 cup, finely chopped.

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    RAISINS/CHOPPED DATES OR OTHER DRIED FRUIT: Use Sweet Dough recipe; stir in 1-1/2 cups fruit.

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    SPECIALTY WHITE BREAD VARIATIONS - (use Basic White Bread Recipe).

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    FRENCH BREAD: Reduce sugar to 1 Tbsp; Omit milk and eggs; Use 2 cups water; Reduce stirred in flour to 1-1/2 to 2 cups. Increase first rise to 1 hour. Shape and bake according to Shaping and Baking directions.

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    FRENCH LOAF OR ROLLS: Brush with beaten egg just before baking.

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    RICH EGG BREAD - (use Basic White Bread Recipe) Increase sugar to 1/3 cup. Decrease water to 3/4 cup. Use 3 eggs.

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    SOUTH OF THE BORDER LOAF - (use Basic White Bread Recipe) Decrease sugar to 1 tablespoons Decrease milk to 1/2 cup. Increase stirred in flour to 3-1/2 to 4 cups. With this flour, Stir in the following: 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup chopped olives, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 to 4 TBSP minced green chilies (optional). Shape and bake according to directions for regular or round loaves, or rolls.

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    SWEET DOUGH - (use Basic White Bread Recipe) Increase sugar to 1/2 cup. Eliminate water. Use 2 cups milk. Substitute butter or margarine for oil.

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    CINNAMON SWIRL - (use Sweet Dough Recipe) Pat each half of dough into a 7x14-inch Rectangle; spread with 1 Tbsp butter or Margarine. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 Tbsp Cinnamon; sprinkle half of mixture over each rectangle. Starting with the 7-inch side, roll jelly-roll style. Seal all edges tightly. Shape and bake according to instructions for a regular loaf.

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    SPECIALTY DARK BREAD VARIATIONS - (follow Whole Wheat or Medium Rye Basic Recipes).

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    DELICATESSEN RYE BREAD - (use Basic Med-Rye Recipe} Omit sugar, water and 1 egg. For warm liquid, heat 1-3/4 cups milk, 1/4 cup molasses, 1/4 cup cooking oil and 1 square unsweetened chocolate (chocolate does not need to melt). Along with stirred in flour at 1 Tbsp Caraway Seed (optional) Stir in 1/4 to 1 cup white flour with the rye flour. Do let the dough to rise until double. Increase first rise to about 1 hour and the second to about 40 minutes. Increase the baking temperature to 400*F. Bake loaves 30-40 minutes.

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    HEARTY WHOLE WHEAT LOAVES - (use Basic Whole Wheat Recipe) Substitute 1/4 cup brown sugar for the white sugar. Along with the stirred in flour add 1/2 cup each Wheat Germ and Rolled Oats and 2 Tbsp Sesame Seeds. Decrease kneaded in white flour to 1/4 to 3/4 cup. Increase first rise to about 1 hour.

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    LIGHT PUMPERNICKEL BREAD - (use Basic Med-Rye Recipe) Eliminate sugar. Decrease water to 3/4 cup. Heat 1/4 cup molasses with other liquids. Along with stirred in flour add 2 Tbsp caraway seeds.

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    100% WHOLE WHEAT BREAD - (use Basic Whole Wheat Recipe) Eliminate white flour. Stir in 3 to 3-1/2 cups whole wheat flour; knead in a further 1/2 to 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour.

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    SHAPING AND BAKING: Use half of dough to make each shape. Using solid shortening, generously grease pans. If desired, just before baking, slash top of loaf in any design using a sharp knife.

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    BAKE BREADS at 375*F: [U]All Loaves[/U] - 35 to 45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped.

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    ALL ROLLS - 10 to 20 minutes.

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    REGULAR LOAF: Use a 9x5 or 8x4-inch loaf pan. Press dough into pan; insert fingers between pan and dough to round edges.

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    ROUND LOAF: Use an 8 or 9-inch round cake pan, 1-1/2 quart round casserole or cookie sheet. Form dough into round ball; flatten slightly.

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    FRENCH & OBLONG LOAF: (Use a large cookie sheet).

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    FRENCH: form dough into 14-inch loaf; taper ends.

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    OBLONG: form dough into 8 to 10-inch oblong loaf; round ends.

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    ROPE SHAPED LOAVES: Shape half of dough into a 26-inch rope; form into any desired shape described below.

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    COIL: Use 8 or 9-inch round cake pan, 1-1/2 quart round casserole or cookie sheet. Beginning at center of loaf, roll rope into snail shape; tuck tail under.

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    TWIST: Use a 9x5 or 8x4-inch loaf pan or cookie sheet. Cut rope in half to form two 13-inch ropes. Twist together; seal ends.

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    FIGURE EIGHT: Use a 9x5 or 8x4-inch loaf pan or cookie sheet. Form rope into figure-eight; seal ends.

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    DOUGHNUT: Use cookie sheet. Form circle by bringing ends of rope together; seal. Flatten circle to 1-1/2 inch thickness.

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    ROLLS - (use large cookie sheets).

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    ROUND: Form dough into 12 2-inch balls.

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    VIENNA: From dough into eight 6-inch oval rolls; flatten slightly.

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    BREADSTICKS: Cut dough into walnut size pieces. Roll with hands into 5-inch sticks.

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    BREAD GLAZES - use any of the following glazes to create different crusts.

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    SOFT BUTTERY CRUSTS: Brush loaves with softened or melted butter or margarine AFTER BAKING.

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    CRISP SHINY CRUST: Brush loaves with a mixture of 1 egg and 1 Tbsp water JUST BEFORE BAKING. May be sprinkled with poppy or sesame seed.

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    DELICATESSEN CRUST: Remove loaves from oven 5 minutes before done; brush with a mixture of 1/2 tsp cornstarch and 1/4 cup water that has been heated to boiling. Return to oven to finish baking.

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    CINNAMON/SUGAR CRUST: Brush loaves with 2 Tbsp melted butter or margarine; sprinkle with mixture of 2 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon AFTER BAKING.

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    SLIGHTLY CRISP, SHINY SWEET CRUST: Brush loaves with a mixture of 1 Tbsp each of sugar and water AFTER BAKING.

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    From: http://www.recipelink.com/mf/31/10995.