Today we are embracing the Groundhog Day conclusion, more weeks of winter! We are also embracing that while our New Years goal was to eat healthier, we miss ALL the carbs. That is where our recipe for homemade bread comes in. There is no comparison in the store to homemade bread! The same recipe that our grandma has made for years has now been passed down to us, and we are sharing it with you! The beautiful thing about homemade bread is THT you can eat it plain, make a killer sandwich with it, or spread some pesto on top and dip it in your bowl of tomato soup. The opportunities are endless! For this recipe we use a bread machine. Yes, this is a little bit of an investment, but it is worth it! Having fresh, homemade bread at your fingertips is a small, but wonderful luxury. We also use the machine for making pizza crust, dinner rolls, and more.
Bread Machine Recipe: Country White Bread
8 oz Milk
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1 Large Egg
1 1/2 Tbls Butter (softened)
4 Cups of Natural Unbleached Flour
3 Tbls Sugar
2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
Directions:
Mix all ingredients into the bread pan and set machine for Basic. We select crust to light, as we prefer softer bread! After the machine has completed all the kneading and before it begins baking, we remove the small paddle on the inside. Once the machine is finished remove the loaf immediately and place on a cooling rack. Slice the bread once cooled and store in a bag to keep from drying out.
Serving Suggestions:
We LOVE using this bread to make grilled sandwiches and soup.
In this photo we used two slices of homemade bread, two slices of white cheddar cheese, and a couple slices of honey smoked turkey. Cooked in a frying pay with butter and “Sandwich Sprinkle” from Penzey’s until the bread is golden brown. Served with a side of classic tomato soup.
Another delicious way is to make Pesto Toast with Tomato Soup.
We simply took two slices of bread, spread on pesto, then topped with shredded parmesan. Baked in the oven at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes until the cheese was melted and the bread looked toasted.
It also makes the best toast for breakfast! You can’t go wrong with a fried egg, a slice of bacon, and a buttery piece of homemade bread toasted just right.
The best thing about bread? It honestly goes with ANY wine! Eat the bread, drink the wine, and live a little! Cheers to a few more weeks of winter!