Fresh Baked Bread For Your Budget

With the price of groceries on the rise and school back in session, you’ve got to save where you can. Couponing is a great option, but in my household, we save by growing our own vegetables and herbs and making our own food products. For instance, store bought bread would cost you at least $2.50. For less than $10.00, I can buy a 5lb bag of flour, milk, and yeast and make 4-6 hearty loaves. That’s about a dollar a loaf! Fresh baked bread is less expensive and healthier to eat.

Fresh baked bread is much easier to make now! On the weekends, while I’m preparing Sunday lunch, my husband will bake bread for our family! If my husband can do it, yours can too. 😉  You don’t have to knead for hours on end. This recipe is quick and easy. Simply combine all the ingredients and your mixer will do most of the work! You may add herbs, spices or cheese to this recipe. With all the ways you can flavor this bread recipe, your children will never get tired of sandwiches for school lunch!

It’s a very good recipe because it will take a lot of neglect and still bake a wonderful loaf. Even if you overproof, it’ll be beautiful and tasty.  Here’s how to make fresh baked bread for your budget! Enjoy!

Bread-01Fresh Baked Bread For Your Budget

As a child, I used to sing “Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man. Bake me some bread as fast as you can; Roll it up, roll it up; And throw it in a pan!” to my dad while he made bread…

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 cups wheat flour
1 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp instant yeast (or use active and put in 1/2 c of warm water to activate, and a little sugar if you’d like)
3 cups of water (unless you use 1/2 c in yeast…then cut to 2 1/2 c of water)
2 Tbsp honey
Olive oil or melted butter
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, wheat flour, salt, and yeast. Add water to mixture by slowly pouring it into the mixing bowl. Now, add honey. Using your mixer’s bread paddle, knead the dough until a ball forms. Then, knead for 1-2 minutes in bowl. (You may add a pinch of flour if the dough is too sticky.) Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot for two hours. (I usually put mine on top of the dishwasher. The steam from the rinse cycle makes it ideal for proofing!) After proofing, you can keep the dough in the refrigerator until ready to bake!
Once ready to bake, preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Then, split dough ball in half and make two loaves. Spray two 9×5 loaf pans with olive oil and place one loaf in each. If you don’t have olive oil, simply line the pan with parchment paper.  Brush the top of each loaf with olive oil or melted butter. Place both loaves in the oven and bake for 20-45 minutes until the bread has a golden brown crust. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack for about 20 minutes. Slice and eat or store for up to 7 days. Loaves can be frozen for up to three months and can be thawed on counter for later use.
The Main Ingredients: Flour, Salt, Yeast, and Honey
The Main Ingredients: Flour, Salt, Yeast, and Honey
Starting To Knead the Bread
Starting To Knead the Bread
See the Ball of Dough Formed? Knead for 1-2 More Minutes!
See the Ball of Dough Formed? Knead for 1-2 More Minutes!
Ball of Dough After Proofing
Ball of Dough After Proofing
Waiting To Be Divided
Waiting To Be Divided
My Husband, Chris, Divides the Loaves
My Husband, Chris, Divides the Loaves
Loaves Divided
Loaves Divided
Place In Pan and Brush with Olive Oil
Place In Pan and Brush with Olive Oil
Finished Product! Fresh Baked Bread For Your Budget!
Finished Product! Fresh Baked Bread For Your Budget!

For more ideas on how to use “Fresh Baked Bread For Your Budget,” visit Food Republic and read “Today Is A Day To Try Lunch On Toast.”

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