Mom's Yeast Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons instant yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 2 cups skim milk, lukewarm
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons crisco, melted (or oil)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 7 -8 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
• 1 -2 tablespoon butter, for top of bread

Recipe

• 1 dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water in large bowl. this usually takes about 5 minutes. if you don't see any bubbles/foaming, your yeast is dead, start over.
• 2 add the milk, crisco, salt, wheat germ, vital wheat gluten, and about 4 cups flour. i usually heat the milk and crisco in the microwave so the crisco melts, and the milk gets warm all in one step.
• 3 continue adding flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough forms a ball, and starts leaving the sides of the bowl.
• 4 knead the bread, adding flour as needed until the dough is smooth and elastic. i usually knead about 3-5 minutes.
• 5 let bread rise in a covered bowl in a warm place until double in size (about 30-60 minutes).
• 6 punch down and form into loaves or rolls and place in a greased and floured pan.
• 7 let rise about 30 minutes more. bake at 425 degrees 25-30 minutes, or till the bottom of the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
• 8 remove from pans and place on racks to cool.
• 9 butter tops while still warm, if desired. cool completely before wrapping.