Warm homemade bread. Just the thought makes my mouth water. The smell wafting through the house on a cold winter day. What could be better than that? Not a whole lot in my opinion. From the time I was very little, homemade bread has made my sandwiches better and my toast crunchier. I learned at an early age to make homemade bread. Making homemade bread is an art that I will always use. I hope my tips and the recipe that follows will help you successfully make your own loaf of warm moist bread. Read on and then get the ingredients ready and start your adventure today.

1. Buy only the best ingredients. Flour types,for example,are not all the same. You should get bread flour and the best yeast you can. It will pay off in the long run with great tasting bread that you will want to share...or not.

2. Read the recipe all the way through and save enough time to properly make and raise the dough. Leave enough time to bake it just right and take it out of the oven right away. Bread that is overcooked because you forgot it doing errands or other things will not tase good and you will be disappointed. Taking the bread out of the pan right away is necessary too. You don't want to "steam " it as it will be soggy.

3. Some types of bread you cannot knead enough. This step is extremely important to great bread. Many of my cares and worries have been thought through when kneading bread. I have also made bread to get out my frustrations. Kneading is great for that too. You know what else kneading bread is great for? ..... your pectoral muscles...I have always had a firmer chest when I have made bread a lot. You can laugh..but it is true. Your arms get a great work out. If the bread is kneaded properly your arms and chest should be getting a good workout that you can feel. What a great argument to get that guy in your life to help you...they can have a firmer chest and something great to eat after...go fo it!

4. Raise the bread the proper amount of time. Don't cut it short or make it bake before you have raised it enough. Patience here is a virtue so again plan enough time.

5. Preheat the oven before you bake your loaf. Th proper temperature will also ensure that your loaf is perfect and good enough to eat or share.

So, above is all my advice. If you are ready to begin assemble all the ingredients and your pans and dig right in. Good luck and enjoy my recipe

Molasses Oat Bread

Ingredients:

4 cups boiling water

2 cups old-fashioned oats ( the quick cooking kind)

1 cup molasses

5 tablespoons vegetable oil of your choice

1/4 cup sugar

3 teaspoon salt

1 package ( 1/4 ounce) active dry yeast

8 cups of flour

In a mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients ( boiling water, oats, molasses,oil,sugar, salt). Let cool until warm ( 110-115 degrees)

Add yeast and mix well.

Add enough flour to form a soft but not sticky dough ( you may not use all the flour or you may need to add a little more..not more than a cup)

Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic-6 - 8 minutes.

Grease a large mixing bowl and place dough into it. Turn dough once to grease all sides.

Cover with Saran wrap or a wet kitchen towel and place in a warm spot.

Raise until double about 1 & 1/2 hours. Punch down dough and divide into 3rds. Shape into loaves and place into greased 9by 5 by 3 inch loaf pans.

Cover and let rise until double again. About 1 hour.

When almost double preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven , invert onto wire racks and slide loaves onto racks to cool.

You can eat right away or you can freeze these loaves for 2 months..Enjoy!

Learn more about this author, Bethany Harvey.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about How to make homemade bread?
We want to hear your view. Write now!