There is something about fresh homemade bread that just enhances almost every meal.
Jump to RecipeGrowing up, my Mom was famous for her homemade bread. She would have at least six loaves rising on any given day. Whenever friends would visit, they always left with a fresh loaf of bread. She would use this huge bread bowl to “throw” it together and knead the dough for what seemed hours on end in one of my most vivid memories of her. However, I did not inherit that talent, nor do I have the time most days to spend massaging dough to perfection, which is why I use a bread machine for almost all of my yeast loaves of bread. Simple and easy! While she might not quite approve of my technique, at least I am keeping on the tradition of making fresh bread!
This bread recipe I adapted from allrecipes.com and added a touch more texture. The best part is it makes two loaves! So you can freeze one if needed. I often make a couple of batches and freeze them so that we always have fresh bread.
I love dipping a slice of this bread in a warm bowl of soup, and I use it to accompany all of my soup recipes.
It’s perfect for sandwiches, breakfast, garlic bread, bruschetta, and so much more!
Five main ingredients. Follow bread machine instructions however, most instruct to place wet ingredients in first and then add dry. Set bread machine to dough setting.
Once dough cycle is complete. Remove dough form bread machine pan and divide in two. Place on a cornmeal or floured surface and cover with a dry cloth. Let rise for 45 minutes. Remove cloth and brush with egg wash if desired.
Bake in 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30-35 minutes.
Equipment
- Bread machine
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup water warm
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 cups flour
- 2 1/4 tsp yeast bread machine or rapid rise
Egg Wash – Optional
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp water
Instructions
- Follow your bread machine instructions for whether wet or dry first.
- Most machine instruct wet ingredients first – add water, oil
- Then add dry – sugar, salt, flour, yeast.
- Set machine to dough cycle
- Once dough cycle is complete, remove from pan.
- Separate dough into two parts and form into two loaves. Place on a floured, or cornmeal dusted surface. Let rise for 45 minutes.
- While rising, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil a baking sheet
- If desired, combine egg and water, brush egg wash over each loaf.
- Transfer loaves to prepared baking sheet. Bake 30-35 minutes or until bread is golden brown. Transfer to a rack and cool.
- Slice it up and enjoy!
