Homemade bread. It doesn't suck.

I've mentioned several times that I've been making homemade bread since the beginning of September.  I'm not sure if it's necessarily "cheaper" (the Duggars say it is . . .), but I do love making it.  I've gotten into the habit of making it on Wednesday nights, because on Wednesdays Pen chills out with his buddies and I put the kids to bed early and drink wine make bread!  I've experimented with several bread recipes, including those that have whole wheat flour, bread flour, all-purpose flour, and self-rising flour.  I prefer the recipes with all-purpose flour, but that's only because I always have AP flour in the house.  We've also purchased a bag of bread flour and have used quite a bit of that, and I use self-rising flour every time I make biscuits. 

Here's the recipe I normally use to make bread.  I use a KitchenAid mixer with a dough attachment and it is aaaaaaamazing.

1 1/4 cup lukewarm milk (I put it in the microwave for about 2 minutes to heat)
1 1/2 tbsps sugar
2 tsps active dry yeast
2 tbsps softened butter
1 1/2 tsps salt
3 cups + all-purpose flour

Put the first three ingredients into your bowl and let them hang out for about 10 minutes, getting to know each other.  Then add the salt, butter and slowly (s-l-o-w-l-y) mix in the flour.  I originally measured out 3 cups, but I had to add some more because it was too gooey.  I let it run in the mixer for about 5 minutes, letting it do the hard work for me.  I kneaded it a bit on my floured bar, then covered it and let it rise for 25 minutes.  Then I beat it up, let is rise for another 10 minutes, then shape it into a loaf, and let is rise in the loaf pan until the oven is preheated to 350 degrees.  Let it cook for 25 minutes, and try not to burn your hands or the roof of your mouth when you start chewing on the loaf when it's still liquid magma hot take it out of the oven.

For best results, add homemade jelly, or loads of butter with a tad of garlic power and watch your DVRed Parenthood do laundry.