Bread Making Made Simple

I went to a lecture group with a few women from my church tonight and I was so enlightened that with the permission of Rebecca, I am sharing some things I learned.  

The Tricks:  Buy bread flour at Costco.  A 25 lb bag is currently $6.99.  Bread flour is a necessity cuz it is higher in gluten, all purpose flour is not the same thing.   Buy Redstar yeast at Costco, 2 lbs for $3.59.  This is important.  The same amount of yeast at a regular grocery store would cost you $106.56, three .25 ounce packets of yeast sell for $2.50.  The Bosch Universal mixer will save you so much time.  It is capable of mixing 15 lbs.  Rebecca makes 6 loaves of bread at a time.  Here is her bread cost comparison:  If you buy 4 loaves of bread per week at $3.00 per loaf, you will spend $625 per year on bread.  If you make 4 loaves of bread per week at 25 cents per loaf, you will pay $52 per year on bread.  At that rate you could pay for your Bosch in the first 8 months.  Energy costs to run your mixer and oven are fairly minimal and not included in the analysis.

Here is Rebecca's Basic Bread Recipe:  6 cups warm water, 2 Tbsp yeast, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp Salt, 5 cups Whole Wheat Flour, Approximately 9 cups bread flour.  Mix everything as you go, add flour until dough is still sticky but firm.  Oil hands to remove from mixer and form into loaves.  Loaves weigh about 1.5 lbs each when wet.  Oil pans.  Bread only rises ONCE in the pans.  Bake at 325 for 37 minutes.  Let bread cool for 5 minutes in pans and it will contract and pop right out.  Finish cooling on a rack.  Bag with bread bags and freeze.  

Thaw on counter for a couple hours.  You can change the proportion of wheat flour to bread flour to taste.  Add 9 grain mix, flax meal, or rolled oats.  Make artisan bread, rolls or pizza with the dough.