Simply Awesome Homemade White Bread

A great basic white bread recipe that results in a loaf that has a lighter-than-air texture on the inside, not to mention delicious homemade flavor in every bite.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup warm water
1 (0.25-ounce) packet active dry yeast, or 2 1/4 teaspoons
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, melted and cooled to room temperature
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Cooking Directions:

1. Method Using a Bread Machine: Place ingredients in the bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select Basic bread cycle and start the machine.
2. Method Using a Dough Hook: Place water, yeast and sugar in bowl of mixer and stir on low speed to dissolve yeast. Add flour, shortening and salt; knead with dough hook to form a smooth and elastic dough, about 8 minutes. Remove dough from bowl and place in a large bowl that has been coated with oil, turning the dough once in the bowl to coat with oil, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it in a warm place to rise for an hour, or until it doubles in volume.
3. Place dough in a greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 90 minutes, or until doubled.
4. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown and hollow-sounding. Remove from pan and cool on wire racks for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
5. Method By Hand: Place water, yeast and sugar in bowl and stir to dissolve yeast. Stir in flour, shortening and salt; and knead on a lightly floured work surface to form a smooth and elastic dough, about 8 to 10 minutes. Place dough in a large bowl that has been coated with oil, turning the dough once in the bowl to coat with oil, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it in a warm place to rise for an hour, or until it doubles in volume.
6. Place dough in a greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 90 minutes, or until doubled.
7. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown and hollow-sounding. Remove from pan and cool on wire racks for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Makes 1 loaf.

Tip: Flour changes with the weather, absorbing moisture when the humidity is high in the summer, and becoming drier when the humidity is low in winter months. This is good to know when it appears one's bread dough isn't quite right and how to remedy it. Simply put, if the bread dough appears too dry once all ingredients are incorporated, add a small amount of liquid. The same goes if the dough appears too wet and sticky, a small amount of flour added corrects the situation.