Brenda’s Bread
My Aunt Brenda was the best of the best. She was kind, loving, and my gosh, could she bake! Anytime a family event was hosted at her house, you knew you were in for the meal of your life. Everything was always from scratch, and she pulled out all the stops for even the most simple of gatherings. She had a way of making you feel so special and important in her life, and a huge part of that was the way she poured so much love and attention into her food. One year for my birthday she called me and asked me to stop by. I walked in and was instantly greeted with the most beautiful carrot cake. Her thoughtfulness toward me in that moment brought tears to my eyes. Cancer, took our sweet Brenda a few years ago and though there’s an ache in my heart, her memory will always live on in the things she made and recipes she created. This post is for you, Brenda. Though it doesn’t quite taste the same without your loving hands, it’s still the best bread I’ve had.
The crust that forms provides the perfect crunch to the soft center of the bread
Brenda spent one whole day teaching me how to make this bread. She gave me tricks of the trade and while the bread needed time to rise, we had time to talk. It’s one of the things I love most about baking. The conversations that ensue while sweet aromas fill your kitchen. The satisfaction that while you make something soon to be enjoyed, you also have the opportunity to enjoy those you love so dearly.
One of the best parts about this bread, is it’s incredibly easy to make! You don’t need a mixer, it’s just a few ingredients and you have the chance to get your hands dirty. It’s a great bread for beginners, but will also satisfy the biggest critics. I promise you’ll love it as much as I did the first time Brenda made it for me. And while I made this bread this morning, I was reminded of all the sweet memories I had with my Brenda. And then my family and I celebrated her by all having a slice of heaven, together.
The bread can be served as is, or you can make a cinnamon butter to really top it off
What You’ll Need For Brenda’s Bread:
You’re not a cheap wine type of gal. Because every time you go down that route, you wake up the next morning with instant regret. Don’t be the “cheap wine” baking girl, splurge on those quality ingredients. Trust me, they really make a difference.
Active Dry Yeast: it’s very important to make sure you get active dry. You don’t want the rapid rise for this dough. You want to give it time to properly rise and create those wonderful air pockets. I like Fleischmann’s Brand.
Sugar: You’ll use a tablespoon with the yeast to activate it. And then you will also incorporate it into your flour mixture.
All Purpose Flour: My favorite brand is King Arthur. And it really does make a difference to buy the more expensive one. It’s better quality, which results in a better bread. Sometimes, I will do 3 cups of all purpose flour and sub one cup for whole wheat flour. It’s equally delicious!
Salt: Don’t you dare forget that salt! It definitely enhances the overall flavor of the bread.
Olive Oil: I prefer an extra virgin olive oil that does good in high heat while baking.
Brenda's Bread
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 2 (.25 ounce) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoon olive oil (plus more for coating bowl)
Instructions
- Heat your water up to 105°-110° F. Once water is correct temperature, add the active dry yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar and whisk to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes, or until foam has doubled in size.
- Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl
- Once your yeast has doubled, pour over flour mixture and stir to combine. When the mixture is incorporated, add the olive oil and knead on a floured surface for 5 minutes.
- Form dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl. Cover with a towel and place in a warm, dry spot for 1 1/2 hours.
- Punch dough down and place in a one pound loaf pan. Cover again and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- While dough is rising, preheat your oven to 350° F. Once dough has risen, place in oven for 30 minutes. If your top begins to brown, you can place foil on top to allow the loaf to continue to fully bake.
- Take out of oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Then, take out of pan and enjoy the most incredible bread.
