I make bread. I want my kids to remember home as smelling like bread and homemade apple sauce and yummy things like that. I know some people have a hard time with it, but it’s much easier than you may think.
I always make bread in the same bowl. This really helps because you get an idea of how much you’re making by how much is in your bowl. I don’t measure anything. So here is how I do it -
First I put some sugar in my bowl. The bigger your bowl the more you add, but start small -maybe a hand full or two. Then add hot water. The more water you add the more bread you’ll end up with. Probably two cups or so for most families is enough. Stir the water and sugar together and allow it to sit until the water is the temperature of a baby’s bath. Then sprinkle yeast on top of the water. I buy in bulk, but you could use a packet. The more yeast you add the faster it will rise in the end, but a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I sprinkle enough to cover the top. Let that sit until it looks like root beer. Then add some salt (a little pile in the palm) and some oil (a couple of glubs). Stir that all together. Now you add flower. Just add it some at a time and mix it together until you have soft springy dough that’s not sticky anymore. Kneed it for a good while, at least five minuets. Allow it to rise and then punch it down. You can roll it out with a pin and have cinnamon rolls, pinch it into balls and smooth over the tops for rolls, or shape into a loaf. Three little balls in a muffin tin makes a cute little roll, rill into a sheet and cut into triangles for croissants. I cook it at 350 until it’s not doughy anymore and golden- you can pretty well smell it when it’s done.

