Beautiful Buttermilk Bread

"Jamie Oliver's Basic Bread Recipe" has been my go-to Bread recipe for a while. It's super easy, I usually have everything for it on hand and it makes a great basic Loaf for Everyday Sandwiches.


Jamie Oliver's Basic Bread Recipe

1 pint tepid Water
2 Tbsp. Honey or Sugar
3 pkgs. active dry Yeast (each pkg. = 1/4 oz. or 2 1/4 tsp.)
6-8 cups Bread Flour
2 level Tbsp. Salt

Now, I have used this as my starting point for all kinds of different Breads, by using half white and half whole wheat Flour, adding some Butter and Eggs, Raisins, Cinnamon and so on, but last week I happened to have Buttermilk (who knows, why I bought it in the first place), so I ended up with this.


Beautiful Buttermilk Bread

1 pint slightly warmed Buttermilk
2 Tbsp. Honey
7 tsp. dry Yeast
2 Eggs
3 Tbsp. soft Butter
6 cups unbleached all purpose Flour
1 Tbsp. Salt

I put all of the Ingredients in a Bread machine on the Dough Setting, but you can certainly make this Dough in a Stand Mixer with a Dough Hook or by hand. Either way you will want to warm your Liquid, add the Honey and Yeast and let it bloom for about five Minutes.
If you are making this by hand, you would then mix in the Eggs and Butter and combine well, before adding the dry Ingredients and kneading into a smooth Dough Ball (this is where my Bread Machine comes in, since kneading Bread Dough can be a real Bear on your Wrists).
Put your Dough into a Bowl, cover with a Dish Towel and let rise in a warm Spot for about one hour or until doubled in size. Give it another good Knead, shape into two medium sized or one XL Loaf and let rise again until almost doubled. Finally, bake at 375 degrees for 30-45 Minutes, cool, slice and enjoy! Store in covered container for several days or freeze one of the Loaves for later.