Our Daily Bread

I have many memories of my childhood, waiting patiently while the house filled with the aroma of warm bread baking in the oven - taunting me. When it came out of the oven, I would watch my mother butter the top of each loaf, waiting for her to tell me it was time to have a slice - ah, just the thought of it makes me crave the carb-filled yummy goodness of my youth, because you know no matter how hard you try, you simply cannot recreate what your mother made. Just. Not. Happening.

With the prices of groceries now, and the fact that I am home all day click-clacking away and teaching Cleo, I have the time and the opportunity to make homemade bread each day. Swamp Daddy loves it. Cleo loves it and I find it oddly therapeutic - particularly kneading the dough on an especially stressful day. The added bonus is that it is so much cheaper to make bread than it is to buy bread. The average loaf of bread here in Southern Louisiana is $2.75. By buying flour, yeast, and vegetable oil in bulk, I can make a loaf of bread for approximately 53 cents. Yes, 53 cents. That's saving $2.22 per loaf and when you go through a loaf a bread every few days, the savings per month really adds up. (The savings from making bread alone pays for the Internet service each month) Plus, it is healthier without all of the preservatives and garbage put into manufactured food and homemade is ALWAYS better!

You can make more than one loaf and freeze it, take it out in the morning and it is ready to be put into the oven in the afternoon or evening. Time saver, fo sho!

Here's the recipe I use for your simple loaf of white or wheat bread:

3 cups flour (white or wheat)

1-teaspoon salt

1 package, or 2 teaspoons yeast

1-tablespoon sugar (or brown sugar, or honey)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup of lukewarm water.

1. First, mix your dry ingredients, and then add oil and water. Stir with a fork or spoon until sticky and stiff.
2. Turn your dough onto a floured counter top, and knead for a full 5 minutes.
3. Place your dough back into the bowl and cover with oil, move dough around so all sides are covered.
4. Place your dough into a warm spot, free of drafts with a cover (such as a table linen, or dishcloth) and let it set for about 2 hours.
5. After it has set, take it out and “punch” it down to release any built up air inside, knead again.
6. Place dough into very well greased loaf pans, and let it rise again for about an hour.
7. Place in oven and bake at 350 degrees for roughly 30-40 minutes.