Family-Style White Bread

By luvmybuttonsnbows

Prep time: 30 to 35 min.
Makes 2 large loaves

Raisin bread: Stir in 1 to 1 1/2 cups raisins before shaping into loaves.

Cinnamon loaf: To shape roll dough out to a 14 x 7-inch rectangle. Sprinkle with mixture of 2 tbsp. sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon. Roll up tightly to make loaf. Let rise and bake as for plain loaf. If you use bread flour, you may need a little less to make a stiff dough than when using all-purpose flour. Both flourd make a fine loaf of bread.

Ingredients

• 2 pkgs. active dry yeast
• 5 to 5 1/2 c. bread flour or all-purpose flour
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 c. oil or melted shortening
• 2 c. hot water
• melted butter to brush loaves after baking

Preparation

Step 1

Measure yeast, 2 cups of the flour, sugar, salt and oil into large mixing bowl, blending well. Stir into the hot water and beat with spoon until mixture is smooth and satiny. Slowly add 3 cups more flour, mixing until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and satiny. Place dough into greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place about 1 1/2 hours until doubled. Punch dough down. Divide into 2 parts. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9 1/4 x 5-inch bread pans. Let rise again about 1 1/2 hours until doubled. Bake at 375° 40 to 45 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped and are golden in color. Remove from pans immediately. Then brush tops with melted butter.