Bread!!!

So, I wasn't entirely motivated to make bread. I mean, it was something that would be nice, but was not entirely necessary. Until . . . We figured out that Angelica has allergies. A LOT of allergies. Just some of the items on her food list are corn, and tomatoes, and corn, and mushrooms, and corn, and spinach, AND corn. Do you get my drift? She has a lot more allergies, but corn is the biggest. It is also the hardest to avoid. Corn is in everything! I mean seriously, how many forms of corn can there be? Let's see, corn syrup, corn starch, corn oil, corn flour, and don't forget corn meal. So, unfortunately, or maybe not unfortunately, there was corn in the bread. After 1 month without bread, I am entirely motivated now. Still a bit unsure if I can handle it. (You know, I've only been trying for a year or more.) To my delight, It worked! I will definitely be using this recipe in the future. Probably about once a week. Start to finish the recipe takes about four hours, so it takes a good portion of the day, but it is well worth it.

Bread
6 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp salt
2 pkgs. active dry yeast (about 2 tbsp)
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups warm water

Combine 2 cups of the flour with sugar, salt, yeast, and butter in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.

Gradually add warm water and stir well. Mix in one more cup of flour.

Slowly mix in the remaining 3 cups flour, kneading until well mixed. ( The dough may seem a little on the sticky side, do not add more flour. Also, be careful not to over knead. Once the dough is no longer sticky, and everything is mixed in, it is time to stop kneading.)

Preheat the oven to 350. (I preheat the oven now so that I can provide a warm environment for the bread to rise. I also close all windows and doors into the kitchen. Yes, it becomes very hot, but it is important that the room be warm when the bread is rising 

Grease a bowl, to set the dough in. roll the dough around, and make sure it is greased on all sides. Cover and let rise for 1 hour and 45 minutes. If the dough rises to more than double, you can move on to the next step.

Punch down and let rest for 10 minutes.

Punch down again and let rest for 10 more minutes.

Divide dough into halves, place in two greased bread pans, and let rise for 1 hour, until double.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Enjoy!