Dad's Homemade Bread

I made my Dad's recipe for homemade bread to go along with
Portobello Mushroom & Brie Soup!

Ingredients:

2 tbs liquid shortening (I used Crisco oil)
2 1/2 tsp. regular table salt
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 cup cold milk
1 cup boiling water
1 package (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
6 cups (approximately) white flour (I used King Arthur bread flour)

I only used 5 cups of flour & a wee bit more for the counter when kneading.

Directions:

Mix the shortening, salt and sugar in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer (one that has a dough hook and flat paddle attachment).

Pour the cold milk and 1 cup boiling water together.
This will create the perfect lukewarm temp. 110º - 115º F.
(I check it with a thermometer, just in case)

Mix in the yeast & let dissolve about five minutes. Stir gently if it clumps.

Add this liquid mixture and 3 cups of the flour to the mixing bowl.

Using the flat paddle attachment mix until blended.

Continue to add flour until the paddle can no longer grab the dough ball.

Remove paddle mixer and replace with dough hook.

Mix dough on slow speed, adding flour until the dough is smooth and elastic.

It should not stick to the bottom of the mixing bowl.

You may do the final bit of kneading by hand.

Put the dough in a large, greased bowl, cover and let rise until double in bulk.

Punch down the dough, remove from bowl and divide in half.

Shape into two loaves and place in two greased loaf pans.

Cover with waxed or parchment paper. (I find a towel sticks & can be too heavy)

Preheat oven to 425º F. * (see note below)

Let dough in pans rise again in a warm place until double in bulk.

Put into preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.

Reduce heat to 375º F. and bake for another 25 - 30 minutes.

Remove loaves from pans and cool on racks.

* I've had suspicions that my oven runs hot. Its only 4 yrs. old but I think the calibration is off, so I did these loaves at 375º for almost 45 minutes. Maybe a little less as they were getting too brown. Tap on the top & listen for a hollow sound.

After the first rise:

My first batch fell a wee bit, so I did a second one

and let it rise in a warmer spot & was more

careful about any cold drafts nearby.

Ta-Da! Success!

Too bad computers don't have smell-a-vision.
The whole house was full of that wonderful aroma!
It evokes such happy memories.

It was delicious along with this soup

which I'll tell you about tomorrow at the

Saturday Blog Showcase.

Thank you, Michael, for hosting




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