Whatever's Handy Bread

Making steak one night last week caused me to decide that steak, bread and salad was a perfectly respectable meal.  I didn't want to work all that hard at finding and following a recipe, so I just made a single loaf using things that were in my refrigerator.  I dubbed it....

WHATEVER'S HANDY BREAD

3/4 cup warm milk
1 egg, warmed
1 tbsp yeast
1 tbsp gluten powder
2 to 2-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp. sugar

melted butter

Whisk together the milk and egg with a fork, then add the ingredients to your bread machine bucket or mixer bowl in the order listed.  Start with 2 cups of flour, and add more as necessary to form a nice ball. (Guidelines located to the right, of course).  Let it knead through the first cycle, or knead on low speed in your mixer for about 12 to 15 minutes, until the dough is smooth, then let it rest for 10 minutes and punch down the dough.  Form into a nice loaf in a bread pan, the let it rise for abuot 15 to 20 minutes while the oven preheats to 375F (350F for convection oven).  When the dough has doubled in size, cut a split into the middle of the loaf, brush the top with butter, and let it rise 3 to 5 more minutes.  Then put it into the preheated oven for about 25 minutes.

Slice and serve warm.  This is a nice, flavorful bread without being overly rich.  It could also be made with 1 cup regular flour and 1 cup whole wheat.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!