Kate's Bread

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon instant yeast
3 1/2 cups flour (wheat or white)
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tablespoon salt
2 1/2 cups white flour

Directions:
Mix the warm water, yeast, and 3 1/2 cups flour for 2 minutes in standard mixer. Then add remaining ingredients. Mix for 7 minutes. If dough is sticky, add more flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Remove to floured surface. Divide dough into 2 sections. Knead and shape into loaves. Put in 2 oiled bread pans, cover with a towel, and let raise until double (about an hour). Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from pans to cool.

Notes:
The original recipe is double everything, but I so rarely double it that I'd rather keep it in the amounts that I use. To double, be sure to do it in a bread mixer, and it will make enough dough for four loaves.
I love this recipe! The first time I tried to make bread, it was an utter disaster, but then I tried this recipe and it works wonderfully every time. I love both wheat and white versions. Also, for a honey wheat version, replace the sugar with honey.

Time:
15 minutes prep, 1 hour rise, 30 minutes bake. Start to finish, this takes under two hours.

Source:
Kate Lindsay Patterson (also known as Wendy's bread, via Wendy Morgan)