Country White Bread or Rolls from RecipeZaar.com

Here is the recipe that I promised. I get most of my recipes from RecipeZaar or Cooking Light. This one happens to be from RecipeZaar. It was originally written for use with a bread machine but I don't have one. I do, however, have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer so that is what I use. I have actually tried to post this recipe about 5 times but I have experienced technical difficulties (by technical difficulties I mean that I am a big, dumb dummy). They say the 6th time is the charm, so here we go again!




Ingredients
1 cup water, plus 1 tablespoon water
1 large egg
4 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3 1/4 cups bread flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons shortening (for shaping the rolls)
2 tablespoons melted butter


I have written this so many times now that I think I will probably dream about it tonight.

1. Combine flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer.
2. Add warm water (118-125 degrees F) to flour mixture while the mixer is on low speed.
3. Combine oil and egg and add it to the flour/yeast mixture. If dough is still sticky add flour 1 Tbsp at a time until the dough leaves the sides of the bowl.
4. Put the dough hook attachment on your mixer and let it kneed the dough on low speed for about 10 minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic.
5. Place dough in a well-greased bowl, spray it with cooking spray/olive oil or coat with oil, place plastic wrap directly onto the surface, and place it in a warm, draft-free place until it is doubled in bulk. I like to put it in the oven (turned off) over a pan of HOT water.
6. Either shape the bread into a loaf and put it in a greased 9 x 5" loaf pan or shape it into 16 golf ball sized rolls and place them in a greased 9 x 13" baking pan. If you decide to make the rolls, coat your hands with Crisco to make the shaping process go easier. Spray and cover as directed above.
7. Place back into that warm place that we already talked about and let rise until, once again, doubled in bulk.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. For rolls bake for 12 - 15 minutes and for loaf bake for about 25 minutes or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the top of the loaf.
9. Brush the loaf or rolls with melted butter and try not to eat it all by yourself.

I have used this bread for toast, sandwiches, and a diet buster. It has been great for all three so far!