Garlic thyme dinner bread is perfect for family dinners, picnics, and leftover slices taste great when used for sandwiches or toasted garlic bread.
Yield: 2 long loaves
Prep Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2-1/4 cups warm water, 95 to 110 degrees F
- 2-1/4 tsp or 1 pkg. (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 Tbsp soft butter, divided
- 1 Tbsp thyme
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 6 cups all-purpose flour, about
Preparation:
- In large bowl, mix water and yeast. Add salt, 1 tablespoon soft butter, thyme, and garlic. Stir. Add 4 cups bread flour and mix well. Add in enough bread flour to make a dough that follows the spoon around the bowl. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead for 8 minutes, adding more bread flour as needed until the dough is firm and smooth to the touch. Place dough in medium greased bowl. Turn dough over in bowl so that the top is also lightly greased. Cover with clean cloth and let rise in warm, draft-free place for 1 hour.
- Punch down dough. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board and knead for 5 minutes or until the bubbles are out of the bread. Divide dough into 2 equal parts. Shape each dough part into a 15-inch long loaf. Place each loaf on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in warm, draft-free place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Melt 2 tablespoon of butter. Slice each loaf down the center with a sharp blade. Pour melted butter down the middle of each loaf. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until breads sound hollow when tops are tapped. Remove baking sheet and let cool on rack.
