Let's Break Bread

There is nothing like the smell of homemade bread. It's one of those comfort food smells that just takes you back and makes you feel all warm inside. Now I guess I would have to consider myself a bread expert. I have baked bread professionally in my past and I bake twice a week here at home for as long as I can remember It's like breathing I just do it, I don't measure or worry about it really. Like all of those chores you do at home your always looking for the time saving way of doing things and I can say I am no different here.
I recommend a bread machine for the mixing steps. I just through my recipe in the machine and let it do all that mixing and kneading for me. When the dough rises I punch it down and take it out and shape it how I want and let it rise again and bake. The hour and a half that the machine is laboring away I am doing something else to save a little time.

The perfect bread recipe

12 oz of water
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soft butter
5 cups flour for bread (make sure its not out dated!)
1 tbsp yeast

Set it on the dough setting and start. Come back later at the beep and punch down on floured or buttered surface with flour or butter on your hands. Flatten and roll into french bread shape make sure to pinch the dough together where it meets. Place it on buttered cookie sheet and using scissors cut slits about 1/3 the depth of the loaf to allow room for rising and get that nice french bread look. Bake in 350 degree oven for 40 min. Remove and smother with butter. Let stand 30 minutes( if you can) before cutting. Enjoy!