Homemade Bread, Yum!

Homemade Bread Recipe

(Bread, Pizza, Breadsticks)

10 ½ C White or wheat bread flour (I use 5 ½ C wheat 5 C white)

½ C Sugar

1 Tablespoon salt

3 rounded Tablespoons saf-instant yeast

3 Tablespoons liquid lecithin (Do not measure, pour approximate amount directly into bowl)

4 Cups Hot tap water

*Add 1 cup applesauce and an additional Tablespoon lecithin for WHOLE WHEAT bread (half of each for half whole wheat, which is what I like)

Mix dry ingredients.  Add lecithin then water (*and applesauce). Mix for 1 minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry, add more water. Dough should be very sticky. Mix for 5 minutes (10 minutes for wheat). Do not add flour to the dough after it has finished mixing. Spray counter and pans with pam.  Knead dough clockwise until smooth and round. Cut into 4 equal pieces. Shape into 4 loaves and place in bread pans. Cover with dish towel and let rise 25 min. Bake at 350° for 25 min.

You can make four loaves of bread or any of the following with this recipe:

-Breadsticks- Roll out into a rectangle. Cut into strips then in half. Twist or leave straight and place on cookie sheet. Brush with: ½ stick softened butter then sprinkle with: 1 T garlic powder, 1 T season salt, 1 T Italian seasoning, 1 T Parmesan cheese (mixed). Let rise 25 min then bake at 350 for 15-20 min.

-French bread- just roll out thinner and place on cookie sheet. Cut slits and spray top with water for crustier crust. Rise for 25 min. Bake 20-22 min at 350°

-Pizza crust- Heat baking stones in oven. Roll into circle. Place on baking stone. Top with pizza sauce, cheese and desired toppings) Do not let rise. Bake at 400° for 18-20 min. (This bakes while bread rises)

BBQ chicken Pizza: Marinate 1 large chicken breast (per pizza) in BBQ sauce (I used Kraft hickory smoke) for a couple hours. Bake uncovered at 350 for 15-25 min until no longer pink. Cut into small cubes. Spoon BBQ sauce onto pizza dough. Sprinkle with Gouda  and mozzarella cheese. Top with BBQ chicken cubes. Bake at 400 for 18-20 min or until crust is lightly brown.

When I make breadsticks or pizza I usually half the bread recipe or make two additional loaves with it