Lets make bread

Once a week I make a loaf of bread. Its easy and tastes much better than bread bought at the shops.

This is a simple recipe and works for me every time.

500 gms plain flour
1 teaspoon yeast. I use fresh but dried is okay
1 teaspoon sugar
325 ml warm water
1 tablespoon oil. I use olive oil
a pinch of salt

Put the yeast in the warm water and leave it for 5 minutes
Put the flour, sugar, oil, water and yeast in  mixing bowl I use a mixer with a dough hook but you can mix by hand.

Bring all the ingredients together making sure that the flour is fully blended.
If making by hand take the dough out of the bowl and knead for ten minutes. If using a dough hook leave the machine running for 4 minutes.
Once kneaded form into a ball shape and place back into the bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and leave in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size.
Take the dough out of the bowl and punch the dough down.
Put in on a baking tray in the shape that you want the bread to be or put in a bread tin. Leave again to rise covered with a damp cloth.
When the bread is risen put it in a pre heated hot oven for approximately twenty minutes.
Tom make sure the bread is cooked inside turn the bread upside down and tap the bottom it should sound hollow.
Once cooked place the bread on a cooling tray otherwise the bottom of the bread will become wet.
Enjoy

Pat