Neils Harbour White Bread Recipes

NEIL'S HARBOUR WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large warmed pottery bowl place the first 1 cup of lukewarm water. Dissolve into it 1 t. white sugar and sprinkle the yeast over it.
• After about 10 minutes the yeast should be frothy and have risen to the surface of the water. Stir until blended, making sure all the yeast is dissolved.
• Into the yeast mixture stir the remaining water, white sugar,1 heaping T. of salt and oil.
• Beat, then stir in, 1 cup at a time, the flour.
• Mix until it requires muscle. You may not need all the flour. The dough should hang together and be easy to handle, but still a little moist.
• On a floured surface, place the dough, sprinkle with more flour as needed, and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic. This usually takes about 8 minutes.
• Place the dough back in the bowl, cover with plastic and a nice heavy towel, and let rise in a warm draft free place. ( I usually only bake bread on sunny days.).
• Let dough rise for 1-2 hours or until it's doubled in size. When you stick your finger in the dough the imprint should remain.
• Punch the dough down and form into loaves.
• Place the loaves into well greased loaf pans, cover and let rise again- about an hour.
• Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes, until golden top and bottom, and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
• Remove from pans and let cool on a rack.
• * To make hamburger buns,roll about 1/2 inch thick, cut the dough with a wide glass(I use the top of a martini shaker)and place buns on a greased cookie sheet, not quite touching. I usually add a good portion of grated old cheddar cheese to the dough before cutting the rounds and letting it rise for the second time. Just before baking at 425 for 10-15 minutes, I make an egg wash with one egg mixed with 1 T. water and sprinkle with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or for a real treat Montreal Steak Spice. They freeze very well. Makes about 20 buns.

COUNTRY WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, salt, eggs, oil and 3 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch down dough. Divide in half and shape into loaves. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375°., Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

NEWFOUNDLAND WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Combine 3 cups of the flour along with the sugar, instant yeast and salt in a large bowl or in the bowl of a large electric mixer that uses a dough hook.
• Add the melted butter and warm milk.
• Using a wooden spoon or the regular paddle of your electric mixer beat for 4-5 minutes until the mixture is smooth with no lumps. If using an electric mixer, switch to the dough hook at this point and begin to slowly incorporate the remaining 2 cups of flour. If not using an electric mixer keep mixing in the flour gradually until a soft dough forms that leaves the sides of the bowl.
• Turn the dough out onto the countertop or bread board to knead. You may need to use a little less or a little more flour, this is not uncommon. Knead the dough for an additional 10 minutes either in the electric mixer or on a bread board or countertop.
• Cover dough and leave to rest and rise for one hour.
• Punch the dough down and knead it for a few minutes by hand before letting it rest for another 10 minutes.
• Grease 2 medium loaf pans. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions, forming each division into a ball. Place 3 balls of dough in each loaf pan.
• Cover with a clean tea towel and allow the dough to rise until it is about 2 inches above the rim of the pan, about 2 hours depending on room temperature.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes depending on the size of the pans that you are using.
• When baked, turn loaves out onto a wire rack to cool. Brush the tops with melted butter if desired to soften the top crust.