How to Make Bread at Home: A Simple Guide

One of the joys of cooking is being able to create delicious homemade bread. It’s not just about the taste; it’s the satisfaction of making something from scratch. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced baker, here’s a simple guide to making bread at home.

Ingredients

Before you start, gather these essential ingredients:

Ingredient	Quantity
Flour	3 cups (plus more for dusting)
Active dry yeast	1 packet (7g) or 2 1/4 tsp
Warm water	1 cup (approx. 110掳F/45掳C)
Sugar	2 tbsp
Salt	1 tsp
Oil (vegetable, olive, or butter)	2 tbsp

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar and yeast in warm water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, or until frothy. This activates the yeast.

2. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture and oil. Gradually mix the ingredients together until a dough starts to form.

3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it’s too dry, add a little water.

4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.

5. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured surface. Divide it into two equal parts and shape each part into a loaf. Place the loaves in greased bread pans and let them rise for another 30 minutes.

6. Preheat your oven to 375掳F (190掳C) and place a shallow pan of water on the bottom rack. This will create steam and help the bread to rise further.

7. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough

One of the most satisfying homemade dishes is pizza. Making your own pizza dough is simple and allows you to customize the flavor and texture to your liking.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make homemade pizza dough:

Ingredient	Quantity
Flour	3 cups (plus more for dusting)
Active dry yeast	1 packet (7g) or 2 1/4 tsp
Warm water	1 cup (approx. 110掳F/45掳C)
Salt	1 tsp
Oil (vegetable, olive, or butter)	2 tbsp

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, or until frothy.

2. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture and oil. Gradually mix the ingredients together until a dough starts to form.

3. Turn the dough onto a floured