Fresh Bread...hot out of the oven!

My dear friend Casey… well that girl KNOWS me. You know what I mean? Those people who can almost predict your response to something and who take an actual interest in what’s going on in your life. Casey’s Mama was always making all kinds of wonderful things for dinner when I was a teenager and hanging out at their house… and along with all that yummy food was often homemade bread… Can anything else make a person feel more welcome than fresh bread right out of the oven? Well, for my birthday last year, Casey, that wonderful girl, gave me a book that nearly changed my life!

It’s exactly what it says… quick and easy and it fills your house with such an amazing aroma that people will literally come running from miles around to see what’s makin’ their mouths water!

Of course, the first recipe I made was a French Brioche (a moist buttery bread with honey in it!) because my sweet tooth wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s what you need:

***Disclaimer: This recipe makes 2 1lb loaves, but I make one and save the other half of the dough for Caramel Sticky Buns… you should too.

Brioche:
¾ cup lukewarm water
1 packet of granulated yeast

¾ Tbsp salt

4 eggs (lightly beaten)

¼ cup honey

1 ½ sticks butter (melted)

3 ¾ cups flour

Egg wash (1 egg + 1tbsp water beaten together)

Grab your handy dandy Kitchen Aid Mixer and attach the dough hook. Add the lukewarm water, yeast, salt, eggs, honey and melted butter.

Slowly add the flour. It will be a loose dough, but after chilling it will firm right up!

Cover the dough in the mixer or a large bowl (NOT AIRTIGHT) and let it sit at room temperature for 2 hours. Yep… just walk away.

Now you’re going to want to chill that dough. Just stick it in the fridge. Once it’s good and chilled you can use it, but you can also just keep it in the fridge until you need it. (Up to 5 days)

When you’re ready to bake up some bread, grease a loaf pan. Use half the dough and quickly shape it into a ball by stretching the dough around to the bottom on all sides. Then elongate it so it’ll fit nicely in your pan.

Let the dough rest in the pan at room temperature for an hour and 20 minutes. Before baking, brush the dough with the egg wash.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and it’s golden brown on top. Your nose will tell you… just wait!

YUM! It’s making me hungry just lookin’ at that picture! I might just have to go whip some up! Enjoy!