A staple of every picnic, a simple loaf of white bread is essential for making rounds of sandwiches for all the family so why not try baking your own ready for your next summer trip? I’ve been using this recipe for a standard white loaf for years and it’s just so simple – the thing that takes the most time is waiting for the dough to rise, so I’ve found that baking bread more about patience than skill!
Ingredients: 500g strong white flour, 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast, 1 tsp salt. up to 350ml lukewarm water, a little sunflower oil, for greasing
- Put the flour, yeast and salt into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Pour in most of the water and mix the flour and water together until combined to a slightly wet dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for at least 10 mins until elastic and smooth. Put the dough in a clean oiled bowl and cover with cling film before leaving to rise until doubled in size.
- Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Knead the dough again to push the air out, on a floured surface. Mould the dough into a rugby ball shape that will fit a 900g loaf tin (like my silicone tin from Wholeport). Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise for 30 mins. Bake the bread for 15 mins, then reduce the heat to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and continue to bake for 30 mins until the loaf sounds hollow when removed from the loaf tin and tapped on the base. Enjoy!
I’ve been inspired by all the wonderful cakes and bakes over at the Stuck In The Tree blog and I’m getting involved with their Bakespiration Challenge with this easy peasy bread recipe. I hope you have a go at making it too and let me know how it turns out! Tweet me @Cassiefairy or leave me a comment below
