Buttermilk Egg Bread

When it comes to any recipe that calls for yeast, I'm done! I get the deer in the headlights look and it is over. My mom on the other hand does well with this form of small pre-packaged foreboding ingredient! I mean really, how can something that comes in such a small package cause such grief? It can't be that the water or milk needs to be a certain temperature, or that it needs a slightly warm place to do what it cleverly does to aid in the wonderful creations of hot fresh bread with melting butter and homemade jam! I have the jam part down pat. Anyway, one day I will try, I mean really try and get over my fear of failure, or should I say push past the fear of this little pre-packaged tablespoon of leavening that seems to grip my chest and take my breath away like being on a packed tourist bus in some foreign country, like the one in "Romancing the stone"! you get the picture.

My mom swears that this is the easiest recipe ever and that anyone can do it if they just follow the recipe. Give it a try and let me know how you do! I will do the same.
(The picture above is my Mom's baked loaf) pfff, it's certainly not mine!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
3 to 4 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 pkg active dry yeast
5 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs

Directions:
Heat water, butter and buttermilk to 130  to 140 degrees. Stir together the yeast, flour, sugar and salt. Add warm water and buttermilk mixture along with 2 of the eggs. Beat this mixture with a mixer for approx. 3 minutes at medium speed. Stir in by hand the remaining 3 to 4 cups flour, kneading in the remaining flour as you go. Knead for about 5 minutes.

Once all of the flour has been kneaded in cover the dough and let rest for 10 minutes. Punch down and let rise until it has doubled in size, this will take about 45 minutes. Once the dough doubled divide the dough in half and shape into 2 twisted loaves. Place on greased baking sheet. Brush with remaining egg (beaten). Let rise 30 minutes.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until golden. Makes 2 loaves.

Enjoy,
Sheila
aka Meema