I love homemade bread!

I really do love to make homemade bread. I love to cook, in general, but there's something so very calming and therapeutic about bread. So, on a whim, I made some last night. Here's my recipe.

2 cups flour
1 tbs salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup dry milk (do not reconstitute)
2 tbs yeast
1/4 cup shortening
2 1/2 cups very hot tap water
4-5 cups flour

Grease a large mixing bowl and set aside. In another large bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, salt, sugar, dry milk and yeast. Add shortening, water and 1 cup flour. Mix well. Add 3-4 cups flour and knead well. Place dough in greased bowl. Roll around in bowl to keep dough from drying out while raising. Let rise in bowl for 1 hour. Divide into bread pans. Let rise in pans for 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour. Butter the top of the bread when it comes out of the oven.

I know everyone likes hot bread and butter, but I'd wait for about 30 minutes before cutting into it. Otherwise you just squish the loaf and it falls apart.