Comfort Foods - Homemade Bread

Ugh....I've had a really busy couple of weeks. There's a lot going on at home right now and I haven't had too much time to make any proper meals or to get creative in the kitchen. Now, it's not like I haven't been cooking at all, but I'm definitely sticking to tried-and-true favorites, like spaghetti and meatballs, sandwiches, roasted potatoes, etc.. Hmm..they all seem to be comfort foods, eh? I think that's pretty typical of family meals when parents are busy or under a lot of stress.

Today I had a bit more time so I made a simple loaf of homemade bread. I hadn't made a loaf in a while and really missed it. The best part about making homemade bread? It's so easy to make and takes very little hands-on time.

To start, mix 1 1/2 cups warm water with 1 tbsp active yeast. Let rest for a couple of minutes until the yeast begins to froth.

Add flour one 1/2 cup at a time and 2 tsp salt. Mix with a wooden spoon until it begins to get too hard to mix.

Begin kneading the bread by folding it over, turning it clockwise, and folding again. Add additional flour as needed. In total, you'll need 3-4 cups of flour. It really depends; sometimes I use less and sometimes more.You've used enough flour when the dough isn't sticky anymore and is smooth.

Put the dough into an oiled bowl and cover with a clean towel. Let it sit in a warm draft-free area for 1-2 hours. If the house is cool, putting the bowl in the oven with the light on works really well. Today, I placed the bowl on the counter and left the house to run errands. Now, that's a sign of an easy recipe!

Once risen, punch the dough down, knead lightly and place it into a bread pan. Cover with the dish towel once more and let sit for another half hour so so. Preheat the oven to 425F.

Place the bread into the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 375F and bake for an additional 30 minutes.

Voila! A loaf of comforting homemade bread!

Now, you're probably wondering what I've been so busy with at home, right? I'll make an announcement soon! It's very exciting! Until then, back to making comfort foods because it's quick and easy. Tonight? It's homemade pizza!