EASY WHITE BREAD

My mom got this recipe from a lady in her ward who taught it to the young women. It's easy and pretty good. This was technically the first bread recipe I tried on my own. Yeah, I'm still learning and proud of it :).

This recipe makes two loaves.

Ingredients:

5 3/4 C all purpose flour
2 TBSP yeast (about three packets)
2 tsp sugar
2 TBSP sugar
2 tsp salt
1/4 C oil
Warm water

Directions:

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 c warm water and about 2 tsp sugar. Combine 2 c of flour, 2 TBSP sugar and salt in large bowl. Add 1 3/4 c warm water, yeast, mixture and cooking oil. Beat with hand mixer until well blended. If you don't have a hand mixer just use a fork or wire whisk to mix. Stir in 3 1/2 c flour, reserving 1/4 c for flouring kneading surface. Mix with wooden spoon until well mixed. Turn dough on floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (approx. 5-10 min). Grease bowl and put dough back in to it. Let it rise until it's doubled in size. Divide in half and put in floured and greased bread pans, let double in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes, until outside is light, golden brown.

Tips:

* If you want the crust to be soft, lightly brush butter on the top of the bread right after you take it out of the oven.
* The bread will rise faster if it is near a warm area. I'll turn on the oven and leave it slightly open and place bread near it. To double in size it takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour.
* Do not use wheat flour unless it is all purpose. It comes out dry and stale and does not rise properly. I would suggest getting a completely different recipe to make wheat bread.