2 ½ cups warm water (I use my tap water as hot as it will go)
1 ½ Tablespoon active dry yeast
1/2 cup honey or 6 Tablespoons of sugar
2 Tablespoons oil (I use vegetable or canola)
2 ½ teaspoon salt
5-6 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour
This recipe is easiest if a large mixer is used. If a mixer is unavailable, dough may be kneaded by hand.
In Mixer: Combine water, yeast, sugar (or honey), oil, salt, and mix together with dough hook attachment. Stir in enough flour to make a dough that pulls away from the sides of the mixer but is still sticky to the touch. Let mixer knead for 8 - 10 minutes. Flour hands and remove from mixer. Place dough onto floured surface and knead until soft and not sticky.
By hand: Combine water, yeast, sugar (or honey), oil, salt, and mix together with wire whisk in large bowl. Begin adding flour 1 cup at a time and mix with large wooden spoon until it's too big to stir. Turn dough out on floured surface and continue adding flour 1 cup at a time and knead it in until soft and smooth. Knead for 8-10 minutes by hand.
Divide dough in half. Shape each part into a loaf and place into greased loaf pans. Cover and allow to rise until dough is 1 inch above pans.
* another note from Melissa on this one: I heat my oven to 170 degrees and then I put my dough in the pans in there to let it rise in a warm, protected spot (away from my kids!) It rises more quickly for me this way as well. (usually just about 30 minutes!) When they have risen I keep them in the oven and just switch the temperature to 350 and bake.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Turn out of pans to cool.
NOTE: A nice variation is to make sweet rolls. Take one the pieces of bread dough divided to make a loaf. Roll out into a 14 x 8-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Brush with 1-2 tablespoons softened butter, then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Roll up dough. Cut into 1-inch slices and place on greased baking pan. Allow to rise until double in bulk. Bake as above. And of course you've got to top them with some frosting!