I battled yeast and won!!

I made this bread about 2 weeks ago. In fact, we don't even have any left. But I have been slacking on my blogging. An even BIGGER but- This was my first time using yeast and making bread (thats not in the bread maker!!), so clearly it deserves a spot on my blog!!! Also- I am new to food photography, and the lighting in our kitchen leaves a lot to be desired, so please excuse my poor photos.

Anyway...a new (well if you can call getting it in March and opening in September new) Kitchen Aid mixer was calling my name from the upstairs closet, so I pulled it down into the kitchen. But what to make...well, I have some yeast. Let's try...bread!

Basic White Bread
Yields 32 servings (16 slices per loaf)
Recipe from Kitchen Aid

1/2 cup low-fat milk

3 Tbsp sugar

2 tsp salt

3 Tbsp butter or margarine

2 packages active dry yeast

1.5 cups warm water (105-115 degrees F)
5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour

Place milk, sugar, salt, and butter in small saucepan. Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl (I ran the outside of the bowl under the hot faucet). Add lukewarm milk mixture and 4.5 cups flour. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute.

Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 a cup at a time, and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl, about 2 minutes. Knead on Speed 2 about 2 minutes longer, or until dough is smooth and elastic. Dough will be slightly sticky to the touch.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf and place in greased 8.5x4.5x2.5 inch loaf pans. Cover. Let rise in a warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Bake at 400F until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

Viola!! Bread! Did I make mistakes while making this? Of course. And could it have been better? Yes. But did Hubbs love it? He did!! And I will make it again.