Creole Bread

Directions

1. 1
   Mix together the warm water, yeast, 2 teaspoons of sugar, and 2 TABLESPOONS of flour in a small bowl and set aside for 10 minutes. (Unusual to put flour into proofing.).
2. 2
   Warm milk, oil, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and salt in the microwave for about 20 seconds-stir together and set aside. Don't let the mixture boil, you just want to heat it up a bit.
3. 3
   Sift 5 cups of flour into a large bowl.
4. 4
   Once the milk mixture has cooled enough that you can comfortably stick a finger in it, mix it into the yeast.
5. 5
   Add all wet ingredients to the flour.
6. 6
   Mix with a wooden spoon until a dough forms. If sticky, add flour until you have a dough that you can knead.
7. 7
   Dust your counter with flour and knead the dough until smooth, about 5-8 minutes. If the dough becomes sticky as you knead just sprinkle with flour as required. You may have to add up to a cup of flour at this stage depending on the humidity of your kitchen.
8. 8
   Put in greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let rise until double in size.
9. 9
   Punch down and knead for two or three minutes.
10. 10
    Make into two large or six small round balls.
11. 11
    Place on a greased pan-let rise again, bake at 400 F/205 C for 30-35 minutes until the tops brown and the bottom of a loaf, when tapped, sounds hollow.