White Sandwich Bread

I have always wanted to make my own bread, but seeing as how I am not a baker, it never turned out very well. When we started eating "cleaner" the hardest part has been finding bread that Hubby and Little Man would eat. So I made it my mission to find a good bread recipe and make my own sandwich bread. This one did the trick! The first time I made it, it turned out good and every time I make it, it comes out better than the last. This recipe will make 3 loaves. Enjoy! 

Sandwich Bread

2 T yeast 

2 cups warm water

1/4 cup honey or sugar

1 T salt

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup vegetable oil or soft butter

6 1/2 to 7 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water to activate. Add honey, salt, eggs, oil, and 3 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in additional flour, 1/2 a cup or less at a time, until a soft dough forms and the dough is pulling away from the bowl. 

Turn dough onto an oiled surface and knead until smooth, about 6-8 minutes. (If your mixer has a kneading hook just leave the dough in the mixing bowl and put the dough hook on, let knead for at least 5 minutes) Place dough in a greased bowl (you can leave it in the mixing bowl, just take the dough out and form a small ball and place it back in the bowl) Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down and divide and shape into 3 loaves. Place in loaf pans and let rise until doubled once again. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool. 

If you wish, brush some butter on top while still warm.

*NOTE* I didn't want to knead the bread by hand so I used my dough hook on the stand mixer. The first time I let it knead for 5 minutes and I used a fast rising yeast. It came out a tad on the crumbly side. The last time I made it I used a regular active dry yeast, and I let it knead for 7-8 minutes in the mixer with the dough hook and it came out much better. I am not sure if it is the extra kneading time or the different yeast that made it come out better?