Mindy’s Bread Recipe

I have loved reading everyone’s comments – thank you soooo much! I’m working on my next batch of bread now and had a moment to get this posted.

Mindy’s Yummy Everyday Bread

	2 big loaves	5-6 loaves	Ingredients
	(½ cup)	1 cup – 1 ½	potatoes (Instant) enough water to reconstitute
	(1/3 cup)	1 cup	Sugar
	(1/3 cup)	1 cup	vegetable oil
	(2 t)	2 T	yeast
	(2 t)	2 T	salt
	(6 cups)	18 cups	flour – or up to half whole wheat
	(1 ½ cup)	4 ½ cups	warm water (115–130 degrees) hot to touch - not smoking hot

Instructions:

· In the mixing bowl add instant potatoes (I used the pearls), water to reconstitute potatoes, sugar, vegetable oil, yeast, salt, and 1/3 of the flour (for 2 loaves add 2 cups of flour now – for 5-6 loaves add 6 cups of flour) and mix 6-10 minutes at medium speed (use a dough hook), this will help start the dough.

· To develop the gluten, add the flour ½ cup at a time until it cleans the side of the bowl, knead 8-10 minutes on medium speed.

**A note, since I had so many problematic issues with dough I’ve learned it should feel like an ear lobe, not too sticky – if it’s really sticking to your fingers use more flour. When I made this, I thought I had added enough flour, it was cleaning the sides of the bowl and after 10 minutes of kneading I realized it was too sticky – I quickly freaked and called Mindy who told me it was okay to add more flour and continue to mix to incorporate the flour, it just helps with the elasticity of the bread to continue to knead.**

· Once it’s done mixing put it in a large greased bowl to rise, use plastic wrap or a lid to cover the bowl and allow to rise for an hour to an hour and a half until doubled in size (too long of rising uses all the sugar and makes sour dough).

· *Optional – Second rising, punch down the dough and do a 2^nd rising for 45 minutes (Mindy usually skips for time sake and she hasn’t had problems with skipping the 2^nd rising – I did do a 2^nd rising when I made it).*

· Once allowed to rise, break it down into loaves into your greased loaf pans and cover with towels for 45 minutes to an hour until ready to bake (allows another rising).

· Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees and then 30 minutes at 350 degrees.