Breakfast Bread

It is a dense bread that is wonderful as toast, French toast, or for sandwiches.

Yield

18 servings

Ingredients

2 cups milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons granulated (white) sugar
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
2/3 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F/43°C to 46°C)
1 large egg, beaten
7 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Add the butter, salt and sugar and stir until melted; let cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine milk mixture with the yeast mixture. Mix in the egg and 3 cups of flour. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.

Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pans. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until dough reaches the pan tops, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until bottom of the loaves sound hollow when tapped. Place on cooling racks to cool.

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