English Muffin Bread

Each week I bake at least two loaves of bread. I try to make one loaf whole wheat and the other white. On the days that I have more time to devout to baking, I try to make breads that take more rising and kneading time. However, there are many days during the week when I have little time to wait for hours to finish my bread, during those days I make one my favorite easy breads, English Muffin Bread.

This bread takes very little effort and is easy enough for someone that has never made bread before. The ingredients are:

• 6 cups bread flour (you can also use all-purpose flour)
• 5 teaspoons active dry yeast 
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups whole milk (you could also use lower fat varieties)
• 1/2 cup water 
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Combine 3 cups of flour, yeast and baking soda. Heat milk, water, sugar and salt until 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir milk and flour mixtures together, then add remaining flour. Divide dough in half and place in two greased and floured loaf pans. Cover and let rise about 45 minutes, or until double in size. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Wait until cool to slice.

This bread is a little smaller than other white bread with longer rise times, so don't be surprised if the bread looks smaller after rising, it's normal. My two boys love this bread with homemade strawberry jam or butter. It's a quick, easy way to get homemade bread into your family's diet!

Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book page 149.