Categories: Breads- Rolls- Biscuits- Corn bread

Ingredients

• 1 oz. quick-rising dry yeast (4 1/4 oz. pkgs.)
• 2 cups warm water (110 degrees)
• 1/2 cup honey or other sweetener, such as sugar, molasses, or maple syrup
• 1 Tbsp. salt, any kind
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 5 cups white bread flour
• Any kind of seasoning ( see variations)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir the yeast into the warm water. Stir in the honey or other sweetener. When bubbles form on the surface of the mixture, after about 5 minutes, the yeast has been activated. (Do not proceed if this does not occur. You will need to try again with fresh yeast)
2. Stir the salt and oil into the yeast mixture. Then add 2 cups of the flour and beat vigorously for 2 minutes. Add any kind of seasonings. Gently stir in 2 1/2 cups additional flour. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead about 5 minutes, working in about 2/3 cup more flour, until the dough is smooth and no longer sticky.
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, brush the top of the dough with more oil, cover with towel, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. When dough has doubled in size, punch it down and transfer to two 8 1/2 × 4 1/2 inch bread loaf pans. Or shape into 24 rolls, lightly flour, and place on a baking sheet. Let loaves or rolls rise 10 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. If desired, brush dough with beaten egg or honey. Bake the bread about 1 hour and rolls about 20-30 minutes, until make a hollow sound when tapped. Immediately transfer from pans to a wire rack and allow to cool, serve or wrap in plastic and refrigerate or freeze.

5. makes 2 loaves or 24 rolls

6. Variations:

7. Try a wide range of oil, extra-virgin olive oil, walnut oil Asian dark sesame oil.
8. Change up any combination of flour.
9. For seasonings:
10. Combine 1 cup chopped roasted red pepper, raw kernels from 4 ears white corn, and 1 cup currants.
11. Stir in 1/2 cup any kind of chopped olives, 1 cup toasted pine nuts, and 1 cup dried cranberries
12. Or infuse the bread with flavor by adding 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds, 2 tsp, red chile flakes, and 6 finely minced garlic cloves sautéed in oil.

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