B is for Baking. Bread, that is.

Give us this day our daily bread...

Let the "doughman" making commence...

Thankful for little hands.

Memory Verse for the week:

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry...'" - John 6:35a

Ingredients

2 1/2 c warm water (approximately 110 degrees F). 

     tip: we use a meat thermometer to check the water temperature.

6-9 c bread flour, plus more for lightly flouring your work space

2 packets yeast (or 4 tsp.)

3 TBSP oil (vegetable or olive oil will be fine)

4 TBSP honey

1 1/2 tsp. salt

Let's get started!

1. In a large bowl combine 2 1/2 c warm water with your yeast.
2. Add your oil and honey.  tip: if you add the oil first, the honey slides right out of the spoon
3. Begin adding flour. Start with 5-6 cups, and then add them one cup at a time until the dough can be worked through with your hands without sticking to every imaginable surface.
4. Add your salt
5. Turn your dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand approximately 10 minutes. You don't want the bread to be too sticky, so you may need to add more flour throughout this process.
6. Place the dough back into a large bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, allowing it to rise for about an hour and a half. 
7. Once your bread has risen, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
8. Punch the dough down 30 times before removing it from the bowl onto your floured work space.
9. Knead the dough about 3 minutes, adding a little more flour as necessary.
10. Cut the dough in half, forming two loaves. 
11. Oil two bread pans before placing your loaves into the pans. 
12. Cut three slits in the top of each loaf, and place your bread in the oven.

Bake at 400 for 10 minutes. 

Reduce the temperature to 350 and bake for another 20 minutes.