Basic White Loaf

Ingredients 1 1/4 tsp yeast 550g (1 lb 4oz) white flour 2 tsp sugar 25g butter 1 1/2 tsp salt 360ml water

This was another cheat in the bread maker for me - for those with a machine I am not sure how the usage varies but this required the XL Loaf setting, with basic bake!!

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 210C/410F/Gas 6.
2. Place the yeast and milk into a large bowl and whisk together.
3. Add the flour and salt and mix with your hands to bring together as a soft, sticky dough.
4. Melt the butter and pour over. Mix this into the dough with your hands, then cover the bowl and leave to stand for ten minutes.
5. Grease your hands and a flat clean surface with olive oil. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead for ten seconds, then form the dough into a smooth round ball. Wipe the bowl clean and grease with olive oil, then return the dough ball to the bowl and leave for a further ten minutes.
6. Repeat this ten-second kneading and resting process every ten minutes twice, then leave the dough to rest for 30 minutes.
7. Grease a deep 12x19cm/5x8in loaf tin and dust with flour. Divide the dough into two equal pieces, shape into two balls and place side-by-side into the loaf tin. Cover with a cloth and leave to rise for one and a half hours, or until almost doubled in height.
8. Brush the top of the loaf with a little milk and place into the preheated oven to bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and bake for a further 25-30 minutes, or until the top of the loaf is a shiny dark brown and the loaf has come away from the sides of the tin.
9. Remove from the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.
10. Incidentally use this recipe to make rolls by splitting the dough into balls and placing them on a greased baking tray before cooking!!!
    

Another FABULOUS loaf, this one was SO soft!!! Keep your laves in a bread bin if you have one or if, like us, you don't have a bread bin then wrap in some tin foil - keeps for ages!!

Hey! I'd love to know if people are using my recipes!! If you are leave a wee comment on the recipes post! Also, why not head back and let me know how you got on!!?