Bread

Ingredients:

  • 1 packet active dry yeast (7 g or 2¼ tsp)
  • ½ cup warm water (120 g)
  • 1 tsp sugar (4 g)
  • ½ cup melted Crisco (102 g)
  • 1½ Tbsp salt (27 g)
  • ½ cup sugar (100 g)
  • 2½ cups warm water (592 g)
  • 7 cups flour (840 g)

Up to 1 cup additional flour for kneading (120 g)

Directions:

Dissolve the yeast in ½ cup warm water with 1 tsp sugar. Let stand 5–10 minutes until foamy.

In a large bowl, combine the melted Crisco, salt, ½ cup sugar, and 2½ cups warm water. Stir in the yeast mixture.

Add the 7 cups flour and mix until a dough forms. Knead for 10–15 minutes, adding additional flour as needed to prevent sticking.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1–1½ hours.

Punch down the dough and let it rise again until doubled.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Divide into 3 equal portions and shape into loaves.

Place the loaves into greased loaf pans. Brush the tops with a little melted Crisco. Cover and let rise until the dough crowns about 1 inch above the pans.

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown and the loaves sound hollow when tapped.

Remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Yield: 3 sandwich loaves.