Bread you say?

Well Steph, considering you are my first official commentator, I will post my mom's bread recipe. This makes 8 (yes eight) loaves of tasty white bread. It's basically an all-day affair and I have to admit that I haven't made this bread in a couple years. I've become far too accustomed to the ease of my bread maker to make bread the 'old fashioned' way. Plus, what are two people to do with eight loaves and an already full freezer? This bread is tasty, so if you have the time and enough friends and family to share it with, go for it.

Mom's Bread

2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 pkg yeast
3/4 cup margarine
4 cups boiling water
4 cups cool water
4 tsp salt
20 cups flour (5 lbs)

Mix 1/2 cup water and sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast on top of the mixture and set aside. Put the margarine in a large pot and pour the boiling water on top. Add the salt and mix. Add the remaining 4 cups of cool water so that the mixture is lukewarm. Mix in the original yeast mixture. Slowly add the flour and keep mixing (use a wooden spoon). Place the dough on a floured counter and kneed it until it becomes a smooth ball (you may need to add extra flour if it is too sticky). Fill the pot with water to soak - clean the pot out. Grease the pot and put the dough back in it. Cover with a tea towel and let it rise for an hour and a half. Punch the dough in the pot and place back on the counter. Break into 8 loaves - cover with tea towels. Let rise for another 40 minutes. Put the dough into greased loaf pans. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes then turn the oven down to 350 and continue baking another 45-50 minutes. Tap on the loaves - if they sound hollow, they are done.