One of my favorite scents from childhood is the smell of fresh baked bread. My mom and my paternal grandmother were always baking fresh bread. A daily chore actually to feed the ever growing brood. We lived close enough to grandmom and granddad to visit almost every day and help with the truck garden, the animals and of course the cooking. Daddy's family is a pretty big gregarious Irish clan. Food is one of the things always available.

Some of the bread baking tips that I have picked up over the years serve me well these days.

• On a cool day get your kitchen nice and warm. Yeast loves warmth.
• Proof your yeast. Put it in warm water and allow it to become frothy before adding to the flour.
• Make sure there is enough humidity in the kitchen by placing a large stock pot full of water on the stove bring it to a boil and then let it simmer. This helps heat up the kitchen as well.
• If you have AC on during the summer set a large deep baking dish in your oven and set your oven to 180 degrees F. Once the oven reaches this setting turn it off. You have just created the perfect environment for your bread to rise.
• To keep the crust soft always butter it.
• You can substitute equal amounts of honey for sugar and the yeast will still rise perfectly and gives a sweet taste to the bread.
• You can use a bread machine in place of a Kitchen Aid to get your bread through the first rise. Just use your dough setting.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day Iris Soda Bread

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients:


    * 4 cups all-purpose flour (you can use 2 cups of whole wheat and 2 cups of all-purpose flour)
    * 1 cup white sugar (replace with honey if you do not wish to use sugar)
    * 1 teaspoon baking soda
    * 2 teaspoons baking powder
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 3 eggs
    * 1 pint sour cream (plain yogurt works as a substitute)
    * 1 cup raisins
 
Directions:

 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans.
 2. Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, sour cream and raisins and mix until just combined.
 3. Distribute batter evenly between the two pans.
 4. Bake loaves at 325 degrees F  for 1 hour.

I make white bread almost daily and have used the same recipe for ten years now.

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes

Easy White Bread

Ingredients:
 *6 cups of all-purpose flour (you can use bread flour or mix half whole wheat and half white flour)
 *2 cups of warm water (110 degrees)
 *2/3 cup of sugar or honey (I cut this in half and have no problems)
 *1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
 *1 1/2 tablespoons of dry active yeast
 *1/4 cup of oleo (oil of your choice, for a buttery flavor I use butter and cut the salt down to 3/4 teaspoon)

Directions:

Bread Machine Helper Method:

1. Add ingredients to your machine according to manufacturer instructions; mine requires liquids go in first.
2. Set the machine to the dough setting.
3. Punch the dough down and dump on to a floured surface.
4. Knead the bread for ten minutes.
5. Set up in loaf pans for second rise; takes about 30 minutes.
6. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes.
7. Set out to cool; while still warm to the touch coat with butter.

To go straight old fashioned method:

1. Mix sugar and water together, add yeast and stir gently. Set aside for 10 minutes
2. Mix dry ingredients and then add oil and yeast mixture.
3. Mix until the dough forms a sticky ball.
4. Dump dough out on a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes.
5. Lightly butter a stone or metal bowl. Roll the dough around in the butter to coat and set aside to rise; approximately 30 minutes.
Follow steps 3 through 7 above.

You can add cinnamon and raisins to this dough while mixing for a lovely cinnamon raisin bread. I use 1 cup of raisins and a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.

If you prefer a cinnamon or cinnamon swirl bread you roll out the dough after the second kneading session. The dough should be 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Cream together 1/2 half stick of soften butter with cinnamon and sugar mixture (1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon). Smooth over the dough and sprinkle with raisins. Roll the dough to form your loaf and place in loaf pans for second rise.

You can add garlic and Italian seasonings to make a nice lightly seasoned bread. I have also added lavender to make a lavender bread that is to die for.

Enjoy your breads!!