Cael's never-fail homemade bread

[cael]

Ingredients:
2 cups warm water (about 100-110 degrees)
1/4 cup white sugar
1-1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
2-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour (**I make wheat bread, so I use 3 cups bread flour & 3 cups whole wheat flour)

*Optional: honey if you want

Directions:
Dissolve sugar in the warm water in a large bowl, and stir in the yeast. Cover (I use saran wrap) and let proof for about 10 minutes until it looks foamy.

Mix the salt and oil into the yeast mixture. If you want to add honey, do it here - I use a generous squeeze from my honey bear

Mix the flour in one cup at a time. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well-oiled bowl (make sure to drain excess oil ), and turn over so dough is coated. Take a clean dishtowel, run under hot water and wring out - cover the bowl with the hot dishtowel, and allow to rise until doubled, about an hour.

(**note here - to rise, I put the covered bowl in the oven, turn the oven on to 350 and let it preheat for about a minute or two, then turn it off & leave the dough in there to rise. It rises well in a warm environment)

After dough has risen for an hour, punch it down, remove from the bowl & knead for another few minutes. Divide it into two and shape into loaves. Place in well-oiled loaf pans (again, drain excess oil). Cover again as above with the dishtowel and let rise for about half an hour until the dough is about an inch above the edge of the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Remove and cool on wire racks - make sure it's cooled for a while before trying to slice it.

Enjoy!

[Deleted]

Do you think this would work in a bread machine?

[cael]

I know absolutely zippo about bread machines, I've never used or had one, sorry! maybe someone who's had experience w/ bread machines can help?

[Deleted]

I can never get bread to turn out in the machine. It turns out really dense and gummy. I have tried all the fixes they suggest, and it still doesn't work. I gave up and now it is collecting dust.