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Big Beautiful White Pan Loaves

A home-style Amy Scherber's Big Beautiful White Pan Loaves made with Very Warm Water, Degrees, To Degrees F, Active Dry Yeast, and Unbleached. Save it, add the ingredients to your shopping list, and cook it tonight.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup
• Degrees
• 1 3/4 tsp
• 4 1/2 cup
• All Purpose Flour
• 2 1/4 tsp
• 1 1/4 cup
• Cool Water

Method (preview)

1. 1

   Equipment: 9 by 5 inch loaf pan, lightly oiled

2. 2

   In a small measuring cup, mix the warm water and yeast with a fork to dissolve the yeast. Let stand for 3 minutes.

3. 3

   Mix the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl.

4. 4

   Add the yeast mixture and the cool water.

5. 5

   Using your fingers, mix the dough into a sticky mass.

6. 6

   When all of the flour is incorporated, move the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead for 4 minutes.

7. 7

   The dough should be sticky and will not look smooth.

8. 8

   If the dough feels stiff or dry, knead in additional cool water, a tablespoon at a time.

9. 9

   Put the dough in a lightly floured bowl, cover, and let rest for 20 minutes. (This rest period is the autolyse.)

10. 10

    Return the dough to the lightly floured surface and knead it for 7 to 8 minutes.

11. 11

    Place the dough in a clean bowl lightly dusted with flour.

12. 12

    Cover the bowl with a towel and allow the dough to rise at room temperature (75 to 77 degrees F) for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until it doubles in volume. (An indentation made by poking your finger deep into the dough should not spring back.)

13. 13

    Place the dough on a very lightly floured surface.

14. 14

    Gently deflate the dough and pat it into a rectangle.

15. 15

    The short sides should be the top and bottom edges.

16. 16

    Fold the top edge down and the bottom edge up, overlapping them slightly, then turn the dough a quarter turn and fold the top down and the bottom up again to form an envelope.

17. 17

    Shape the dough into a log shape by rolling the loaf down two to three times and sealing the seam with the heel of your palm.

18. 18

    Roll the loaf back and forth on the table to smooth out.

19. 19

    Place the loaf seam side down in a lightly oiled 9 by 5 inch loaf pan.

20. 20

    Gently press down on the loaf to spread it to fill the corners of the pan, and cover it with oiled plastic wrap.

21. 21

    Let the loaf rise at 75 degrees to 77 degrees F for about 1 to 1 1/4