Farmhouse Bread

Before we got married, the only thing I could bake was boxed brownies.

Never, ever, ever did I think I could make a loaf of bread, from scratch, that actually looked like a real loaf of bread.

And the first 6 years we were married were the same thing. I tried recipe after recipe. The bread tasted fine (usually) but I never had a loaf that would rise perfectly above the top of the loaf pan.

Most of the loaves I’ve made over the past 7 years have looked more like bricks than bread.

And we ate them. Brick after brick after brick after brick.

Until a month ago.

I tried a recipe I’ve made before, but had to make a few changes since I was out of some ingredients.

My bread finally looked like real bread!

Not bricks. Not bread that didn’t rise. Not a sad looking attempt at baking.

This bread recipe is completely foolproof and will leave you with loaves of bread that look like they came off a bakery shelf.

Since the first time I made this a month ago, I’ve baked this same recipe 4 more times. That’s 10 loaves of bread. In one month.

And after you make this the first time, you won’t stop baking it, either.

It’s easy.

Soft and fluffy on the inside, a little chewy on the outside.

Perfect with a pat of butter or smear of jam.

Makes incredible french toast and sandwiches. And “buns” for burgers right off the grill.

Do me a favor and make this, please?

I have to know that someone else is eating this bread, too.

Help me share the fresh baked bread love, people! You know you want to.

 

Farmhouse Bread

Makes: 2 loaves, 12-16 slices each

Ingredients:

• 3 cups bread flour
• 1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
• 1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 4 1/2 tsp active dry yeast (2 packages)
• 2 1/4 cups warm water
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer or other large bowl, mix the bread flour, honey/agave, oil, salt, and yeast.
2. Add warm water to flour mixture and mix together until the water is incorporated.
3. Stir in the all purpose flour, 1 cup at a time, until the dough is mixed together and is easy to handle.
4. Knead dough (with dough hook or by hand) until it is smooth and springs back when you touch it (about 5 minutes).
5. Place the dough in a large bowl that has been coated with olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and sit in a warm place to rise for 40-60 minutes or until dough has doubled.
6. Punch dough down and divide into 2 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rectangle (the width of your loaf pans), roll up and place into your greased loaf pans.
7. Cover the loaf pans with plastic wrap or a towel and let the dough rise, again, in a warm place 40-60 minutes, or until doubled.
8. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and place rack in the middle of the oven.
9. Bake bread for 40-45 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and they sound hollow when tapped.
10. Remove from the oven and let them cool 5 minutes before removing from the pans.

Tagged as: easy bread recipe, homemade bread, homemade farmhouse bread, homemade vegan bread recipe