Basic White Bread

By HeatherS

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup low-fat milk
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1-1/2 cups warm water (105°F to 115°F)
• 5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour

Preparation

Step 1

Place milk, sugar, salt, and butter in small saucepan. Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl. Add lukewarm milk mixture and 4-1/2 cups flour.

Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute. Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl, about 2 minutes. Knead on Speed 2 about 2 minutes longer, or until dough is smooth and elastic. Dough will be slightly sticky to the touch.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf and place in greased 8-1/2x4-1/2x2-1/2-inch loaf pans. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Bake at 400°F for until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

Yield: 32 servings (16 slices per loaf).

Per serving: About 95 cal, 3 g pro, 18 g carb, 1 g fat, 0 mg chol, 148 mg sod.