Simple Bread

I just love the smell of freshly baked bread. It's so heavenly! And the first bite of warm bread from the oven is so divine. Simple recipe, tastes great! If you want to be adventurous, add some raisins or dried fruits in the dough before leaving the dough for the 2nd raising :)

You'll need:
3 cups of bread (high protein) flour
2+1/4 teaspoons of instant yeast (Mauripan).

1 cup of warm water
3 tablespoons of castor sugar
3 tablespoons of olive oil (or cooking oil)
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon bread improver (optional)
2 tablespoons of powdered milk (optional)

Loaf pan (greased)

Place flour in a large bowl. Sprinkle salt as well as bread improver and powder milk (if using).
In a mug, place warm water, sugar, yeast and oil. Mix well.
Make a well in the center of the flour and pour all the liquid.
Gently fold flour until the mixture combines to form a dough. Kneading until you get an elastic dough. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and leave it in a warm place until it rises double (about 1- 1&1/2 hrs).

Remove dough and place it on a floured surface, knock dough to release big bubbles. Knead again, about 10mins, and place dough in a prepared loaf tin. Cover with plastic wrap and leave to rise double again (about 45mins).

Preheat oven to 175deg.

Bake bread for about 30mins.

Remove bread from pan while still warm and cool on wire rack before keeping.