Everyday White Bread

Using a KitchenAid mixing bowl or large bowl, rinse bowl with some hot water to warm it. Add 2 cups hot tap water and stir in sugar until dissolved. Add yeast; let proof for 5 to 10 minutes.

Add oil and salt into the yeast mixture. Turn on the mixer to setting 2, adding flour a cup at a time, up to five cups total. If needed, add more flour until the ball of dough isn’t sticking to the sides of the bowl. Then knead it a bit by hand until it is nice and smooth and not sticky, adding more flour if needed. (Follow the same instructions if doing this recipe by hand and knead for about 10 minutes.)

Spray a clean large bowl with Pam. Add the ball of dough, then give the dough another shot of Pam spray on top. Cover with a plastic bag or food wrap and let rise until doubled in size. This will take about an hour or more.

Punch down dough, and divide in half. Shape into loaves; place into loaf pans that have been sprayed with Pam or oiled. Using a fork, stab the loaves so there won’t be big air gaps under the top of the loaf. Give the top of the loaves another shot of Pam. Let rise until the dough is about 1 inch above the pans, about 1/2 to 1 hour.

Bake at 350F for 30 minutes.