SImple & delicious sandwich bread

I can't believe I have been on this breadmaking journey for THREE years.  I guess time flies when you're having fun?  I made my very first loaf of bread while on c***d lockdown and I would have never guessed I would come to enjoy it so much.  Like so many others, I could not find bread in my area and decided to give breadmaking a try because "how hard could it be".  I have come to find out, bread making ca definitely be difficult depending on the type of bread you're making, but luckily I cam across a fool-proof recipe from Julia Child that worked great for me.  I have adapted that iconic recipe and I'm sharing it with you today! 

Even if you don't plan to completely eliminate store bought bread from your household (I don't), I still hope you will give this recipe a try.  Nothing compares to the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven and the taste of fresh bread is something you really have to experience, even if its just once.  Don't forget to tag my socials when you make this.  I cant wait to see what you create! 

SIMPLE & DELICIOUS SANDWICH BREAD
Adapted from Julia Child
Yields 2 loaves 

INGREDIENTS: 
1 Tbsp Active Dry Yeast 
2 Tbsp Sugar
6 1/2 Cups Bread Flour (or All Purpose Flour) 
2 1/2 Cups Warm Water 
2 tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Softened Unsalted Butter

METHOD:

• Add 1/2 Cup warm water, sugar and yeast in a large bowl or stand mixer (preferred).
• Stir ingredients together with a large spoon of fork, until combined and let sit for 5 minutes. The mixture will become foamy.  If the mixture does not foam, either your water was not warm enough or your yeast has died.  Try again with warmer water or swap out your yeast for a fresher batch. 
• Add remaining warm water and 3 cups of flour.  Stir until combined, do not overmix. 
• Add remaining flour, salt, and butter and mix for 8 minutes using the dough hook attachment on the stir setting of your KitchenAid mixer. If mixing manually, use your hands to knead the dough.  The mixture will be sticky, but it will begin to come together as you continue kneading the dough. This may take up to 15 minutes when kneading manually.  
• Remove dough from bowl and ensure there aren't any loose bits of unmixed dough/flour at the bottom of the bowl.  If there are, remove and discard. 
  
• Shape the dough into a ball and place back into the bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour.  It should double in size as it rises. 
• Generously butter 2 loaf pans and set aside. 
• After the dough has risen, punch the air out of the dough and cut into 2 uniformed pieces. 
• Shape each dough ball into a loaf shape and place inside buttered loaf pans. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes. The loaves will double in size. 
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
• Once dough has risen, remove kitchen towels and bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes. 
• Remove from oven and immediately remove loaves from pans. Place on a cooling rack and allow loaves to cool completely before slicing.