Delicious White Bread

Directions

1. 1
   COMBINE 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast; mix well. Heat water and oil in small saucepan until very warm (120° to 130°F). Add warm liquid to flour mixture; blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed. By hand, stir in additional 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour until dough pulls cleanly away from sides of bowl.
2. 2
   KNEAD in 1/2 to 1 cup flour on floured surface until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Spray a large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Place dough in prepared bowl; cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place (80° to 85°F) until light and doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.
3. 3
   SPRAY two 8 x 4 or 9 x 5-inch loaf pans with no-stick cooking spray. Punch down dough several times to remove all air bubbles. Divide dough in half; shape into loaves. Place in prepared pans. Cover; let rise in warm place until dough fills pans and tops of loaves are about 1 inch above pan edges, 30 to 35 minutes.
4. 4
   HEAT oven to 350°F. Uncover dough. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when lightly tapped. Immediately remove from pans. Place on wire racks. Brush with melted butter. Let cool.
5. 5
   BREADSTICKS: After first rise time, punch down dough. Divide dough in half. Cut each half into 32 pieces; shape each into 8-inch long breadstick. Place on greased cookie sheets. Brush with beaten egg white; sprinkle with sesame seed. Cover; let rise in warm place about 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Bake at 400°F for about 14 minutes. Yield: 64 breadsticks
6. 6
   BUTTER-TOPPED MINI-LOAVES: After first rise time, punch down dough. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a 7-inch oblong loaf; taper ends. Place loaves 3 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Make 1/4-inch-deep slit down center of each loaf. Drizzle each with 1 teaspoon melted butter. If desired, sprinkle with sesame seed or poppy seed. Bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when lightly tapped. Yield: 12 mini-loaves
7. 7
   CINNAMON SWIRL BREAD: After first rise time, punch down dough. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into 14 x 7-inch rectangle. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle each with mixture of 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Starting with 7-inch side, roll up. Seal edges; place seam side down in greased loaf pans. Let rise and bake as directed above.
8. 8
   HAMBURGER BUNS: After first rise time, punch down dough. Divide dough in half; shape each half into eight 2-inch balls. If desired, flatten slightly. Place on greased cookie sheets. Cover; let rise in warm place about 30 minutes. Bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes. Yield: 16 buns
9. 9
   RAISIN BREAD: Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon with the salt and stir in 1 cup raisins after beating step. Continue as directed above.