Buttermilk Bread

Not only does this bread smell fantastic when baking, but it is very simple to make and requires few ingredients.  Do not try to make this in a hurry!  It has plenty of rising time, so be sure you have a few hours to spend with your dough.

• 4 cups bread flour
• 2 tbls sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups buttermilk
• .5 stick butter
• 1 tbls active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 egg white

Combine yeast, warm water, sugar, and 1 tbls of flour in a glass dish.  Take care not to overheat water or use metal as this can kill yeast easily.  Let activate for 15-20 minutes until foamy.

While yeast is activating, put buttermilk and butter in a saucepan on low heat until combined.  Curdling of the milk is normal.  Combine the buttermilk and butter mixture with the proofed yeast and knead until dough is soft.  Add small amounts of flour if necessary until the consistency is perfect.  Place in a well-oiled bowl, cover with a damp warm cloth, and let rise for 1.5 hours or until doubled in size.

After the first rising, punch the dough down and let rise for another 1.5 hours.  Once rising is finished, place in an oiled loaf pan, making a few diagonal slits across the top for expansion.  Mix egg white and a tsp of water together, and brush over the top of the loaf.  Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack.