Amish White Bread

For Aunt Beebe:

A few weeks ago, you asked me for my Amish White Bread recipe.  I sent you the link on Facebook.  While I was making it again today, I thought I'd take some pictures of my process and then give you an illustrated post about it.  I hope this helps ....

Ingredients:

2 cups warm water

2/3c white sugar

1-1/2 tbs active dry yeast

1-1/2 tsp salt

1/4c vegetable oil

6 cups bread flour

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam:

2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. 

It will look like this after three cups.

It will look like this after six cups.

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. 

It will look like this when it's done.

Place in a well oiled bowl and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about one hour. (I preheat my oven at this point - to 350 - and let it rise on the stove top. My kitchen is chilly and this heats it up and helps with the rising.) 

Covered and rising.

Uncovered and doubled in bulk.

    

3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes and divide in half. (I use the kitchen scale for this -- it doesn't have to be exact, but it should be pretty close.) Shape into loves and place into two well-oiled loaf pans (don't skimp on the oil here.) Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above the pans (I get the cloth damp and cover them again.)

4. Bake at 350 (F) for 30 minutes or until golden brown and delicious. (They should turn out of the loaf pans immediately upon removal from oven. If not, let them bake longer.)

Yum!