Easy Yeast Bread With Variations

Directions

1. 1
   WHITE BREAD: (Basic Recipe).
2. 2
   Lightly spooning flour into measuring cup & leveling off, measure out 2 1/2 cups flour. Combine flour, dry yeast, sugar, & salt in a large mixer bowl; blend.
3. 3
   In a medium saucepan, combine water, milk, and oil; heat until very warm (120 to 130F).
4. 4
   Add eggs and liquid to flour mixture.
5. 5
   MIXING - Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. With a wooden spoon, stir in an additional 3 to 3-1/2 cups of flour to form a sticky dough. In bowl or on a floured board, gradually work in 1/2 to 1-1/2 cups more flour, kneading or working in with hands until dough is smooth, pliable and no longer sticky (about 5 minutes).
6. 6
   RISING - place dough in a greased bowl; cover with a cloth or loose fit lid. Let rise in a warm place until light and double in size, about 45 minutes.
7. 7
   SHAPING & BAKING:Punch down dough to remove air bubbles; divide dough into two parts. From dough into desired shapes; place in greased pans according to Shaping and Baking directions (follows). Cover, let rise in a warm place until light and doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Bake at 375*F according to shape until loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped. Immediately remove from pans; cool.
8. 8
   (If loaf becomes too brown, cover with tin foil during last 10 minutes of baking.).
9. 9
   WHOLE WHEAT BREAD - (Basic Recipe).
10. 10
    Follow white bread recipe. After beating with mixer, stir in 3 cups of Whole Wheat flour in stead of white, knead in 3/4 to 1-1/4 cups white flour.
11. 11
    MEDIUM RYE BREAD - (Basic Recipe).
12. 12
    Follow White Bread recipe. After beating with mixer, stir in 3 cups medium rye flour instead of white flour. Knead in 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 cups white flour (rye flour dough usually remains slightly sticky). Rye dough should not completely double in size. Add 1 Tbsp freshly crushed Caraway Seeds with rye flour.
13. 13
    NOTES: At high altitudes (5000 feet plus) - after first rising, punch down dough and then allow to rise a second time in the bowl. Decrease the first (and second) rising periods by 15 minutes each.
14. 14
    -----.
15. 15
    INGREDIENT VARIATIONS. (may be used in any of the above basic bread recipes). Ingredients stirred in are added with the flour as it is stirred inches.
16. 16
    HONEY/MOLASSES: substitute 1/4 cup for sugar. Reduce milk to 3/4 cup.
17. 17
    BROWN SUGAR: substitute 1/4 cup (firmly packed) for the white sugar.
18. 18
    ROLLED OATS: stir in 1/2 cup.
19. 19
    WHEAT GERM: stir in 1/2 cup.
20. 20
    CHEESE: stir in 1 cup shredded Cheddar, American, Monterey Jack or Swiss cheese.
21. 21
    HERBS & SPICES: stir in 1/4 to 1/2 tsp celery seed or dill weed, or 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning, or 2 Tbsp minced chives, caraway or sesame seeds.
22. 22
    ONION: stir in 1/2 cup, finely chopped.
23. 23
    RAISINS/CHOPPED DATES OR OTHER DRIED FRUIT: Use Sweet Dough recipe; stir in 1-1/2 cups fruit.
24. 24
    -----.
25. 25
    SPECIALTY WHITE BREAD VARIATIONS - (use Basic White Bread Recipe).
26. 26
    FRENCH BREAD: Reduce sugar to 1 Tbsp; Omit milk and eggs; Use 2 cups water; Reduce stirred in flour to 1-1/2 to 2 cups. Increase first rise to 1 hour. Shape and bake according to Shaping and Baking directions.
27. 27
    FRENCH LOAF OR ROLLS: Brush with beaten egg just before baking.
28. 28
    -----.
29. 29
    RICH EGG BREAD - (use Basic White Bread Recipe) Increase sugar to 1/3 cup. Decrease water to 3/4 cup. Use 3 eggs.
30. 30
    -----.
31. 31
    SOUTH OF THE BORDER LOAF - (use Basic White Bread Recipe) Decrease sugar to 1 tablespoons Decrease milk to 1/2 cup. Increase stirred in flour to 3-1/2 to 4 cups. With this flour, Stir in the following: 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup chopped olives, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 to 4 TBSP minced green chilies (optional). Shape and bake according to directions for regular or round loaves, or rolls.
32. 32
    -----.
33. 33
    SWEET DOUGH - (use Basic White Bread Recipe) Increase sugar to 1/2 cup. Eliminate water. Use 2 cups milk. Substitute butter or margarine for oil.
34. 34
    CINNAMON SWIRL - (use Sweet Dough Recipe) Pat each half of dough into a 7x14-inch Rectangle; spread with 1 Tbsp butter or Margarine. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 Tbsp Cinnamon; sprinkle half of mixture over each rectangle. Starting with the 7-inch side, roll jelly-roll style. Seal all edges tightly. Shape and bake according to instructions for a regular loaf.
35. 35
    -----.
36. 36
    SPECIALTY DARK BREAD VARIATIONS - (follow Whole Wheat or Medium Rye Basic Recipes).
37. 37
    DELICATESSEN RYE BREAD - (use Basic Med-Rye Recipe} Omit sugar, water and 1 egg. For warm liquid, heat 1-3/4 cups milk, 1/4 cup molasses, 1/4 cup cooking oil and 1 square unsweetened chocolate (chocolate does not need to melt). Along with stirred in flour at 1 Tbsp Caraway Seed (optional) Stir in 1/4 to 1 cup white flour with the rye flour. Do let the dough to rise until double. Increase first rise to about 1 hour and the second to about 40 minutes. Increase the baking temperature to 400*F. Bake loaves 30-40 minutes.
38. 38
    HEARTY WHOLE WHEAT LOAVES - (use Basic Whole Wheat Recipe) Substitute 1/4 cup brown sugar for the white sugar. Along with the stirred in flour add 1/2 cup each Wheat Germ and Rolled Oats and 2 Tbsp Sesame Seeds. Decrease kneaded in white flour to 1/4 to 3/4 cup. Increase first rise to about 1 hour.
39. 39
    LIGHT PUMPERNICKEL BREAD - (use Basic Med-Rye Recipe) Eliminate sugar. Decrease water to 3/4 cup. Heat 1/4 cup molasses with other liquids. Along with stirred in flour add 2 Tbsp caraway seeds.
40. 40
    100% WHOLE WHEAT BREAD - (use Basic Whole Wheat Recipe) Eliminate white flour. Stir in 3 to 3-1/2 cups whole wheat flour; knead in a further 1/2 to 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour.
41. 41
    ----------------------.
42. 42
    SHAPING AND BAKING: Use half of dough to make each shape. Using solid shortening, generously grease pans. If desired, just before baking, slash top of loaf in any design using a sharp knife.
43. 43
    BAKE BREADS at 375*F: [U]All Loaves[/U] - 35 to 45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped.
44. 44
    ALL ROLLS - 10 to 20 minutes.
45. 45
    REGULAR LOAF: Use a 9x5 or 8x4-inch loaf pan. Press dough into pan; insert fingers between pan and dough to round edges.
46. 46
    ROUND LOAF: Use an 8 or 9-inch round cake pan, 1-1/2 quart round casserole or cookie sheet. Form dough into round ball; flatten slightly.
47. 47
    FRENCH & OBLONG LOAF: (Use a large cookie sheet).
48. 48
    FRENCH: form dough into 14-inch loaf; taper ends.
49. 49
    OBLONG: form dough into 8 to 10-inch oblong loaf; round ends.
50. 50
    ROPE SHAPED LOAVES: Shape half of dough into a 26-inch rope; form into any desired shape described below.
51. 51
    COIL: Use 8 or 9-inch round cake pan, 1-1/2 quart round casserole or cookie sheet. Beginning at center of loaf, roll rope into snail shape; tuck tail under.
52. 52
    TWIST: Use a 9x5 or 8x4-inch loaf pan or cookie sheet. Cut rope in half to form two 13-inch ropes. Twist together; seal ends.
53. 53
    FIGURE EIGHT: Use a 9x5 or 8x4-inch loaf pan or cookie sheet. Form rope into figure-eight; seal ends.
54. 54
    DOUGHNUT: Use cookie sheet. Form circle by bringing ends of rope together; seal. Flatten circle to 1-1/2 inch thickness.
55. 55
    ROLLS - (use large cookie sheets).
56. 56
    ROUND: Form dough into 12 2-inch balls.
57. 57
    VIENNA: From dough into eight 6-inch oval rolls; flatten slightly.
58. 58
    BREADSTICKS: Cut dough into walnut size pieces. Roll with hands into 5-inch sticks.
59. 59
    BREAD GLAZES - use any of the following glazes to create different crusts.
60. 60
    SOFT BUTTERY CRUSTS: Brush loaves with softened or melted butter or margarine AFTER BAKING.
61. 61
    CRISP SHINY CRUST: Brush loaves with a mixture of 1 egg and 1 Tbsp water JUST BEFORE BAKING. May be sprinkled with poppy or sesame seed.
62. 62
    DELICATESSEN CRUST: Remove loaves from oven 5 minutes before done; brush with a mixture of 1/2 tsp cornstarch and 1/4 cup water that has been heated to boiling. Return to oven to finish baking.
63. 63
    CINNAMON/SUGAR CRUST: Brush loaves with 2 Tbsp melted butter or margarine; sprinkle with mixture of 2 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon AFTER BAKING.
64. 64
    SLIGHTLY CRISP, SHINY SWEET CRUST: Brush loaves with a mixture of 1 Tbsp each of sugar and water AFTER BAKING.
65. 65
    From: http://www.recipelink.com/mf/31/10995.