Potato Bread

Potato Bread is so yummy!  This is the first bread I learned to make (my mom taught me).  I realized that this recipe is one that my Great Grandma, Grandma, Mom, and now I have all made.  So that makes it kind of an old family recipe... and special.  This bread really isn't hard to make.  You can shape it in many different ways:  a braid, dinner rolls, cut and flop.  You can also use this dough to make yummy cinnamon rolls.  With the bread, you can make french toast too.

Ingredients:

One Package active dry yeast or 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water
2/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup lukewarm mashed potatoes
7 cups all-purpose or bread flour


Here's How to Make It:

1. Get all required ingredients measured out.  Measure the yeast into a large mixing bowl.  Warm the water (about 65 seconds in the microwave should do it).

 2.  Add the warm water to the yeast and stir until the yeast has dissolved.

3.  Add the sugar and stir until it has dissolved.

4.  Put the eggs, butter, and potatoes in the water mixture.

First blend in the eggs, then butter, and then potatoes.

5.  Once mixed, sift in the first 4 cups of flour and salt.

Mix with blender.

6.  Now, sift some of the remaining flour on your work space.  Pour the bread mixture on the flour.  Sift some more flour on top.

7.  Use your hands to knead the dough:  knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

 8.  Make the dough into a nice smooth ball.
9.  Place the ball in a greased bowl and cover the bowl tightly.

10.  Refrigerate dough at least 8 hours, but no longer than 5 days.

11.  After refrigerated, divide it in half, shape each half, let rise until double in size, and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Here is How to do the Braid:

With one of the halves, divide it into 3 equal pieces.

Roll each piece into a rope.  On a cookie sheet with parchment paper on it, braid the ropes.  Let rise and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Let cool, slice, and ENJOY!

Here is How to Make Dinner Rolls:

With one of the halves, divide it into an equal amount of pieces.  You can do whatever amount you want, depending on how big you want them.  Here I did 20.

Roll each piece into a ball.  Place them close together, but not touching, on a cookie sheet or in a pan that is covered with parchment paper.  Let rise and bake 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Fun Ideas:  You can cut the half into 36 equal pieces, roll each into a ball, and them place 3 in a greased muffin tin.  Let rise and bake.

At Christmas time, place the balls on a cookie sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree.

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls:  Roll out one half of dough.  Smear some melted butter over it.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Roll up, cut into 12 equal pieces, place in a pan, let rise, and bake.  Then mix together powdered sugar and a little milk, until you have the right texture, and put over the warm cinnamon rolls.

We have also done a half batch in the bread machine, and it turns at great!  Just set it on dough setting, so that you can shape it and bake it.

Ingredients:

One Package active dry yeast or 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water
2/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup lukewarm mashed potatoes
7 cups all-purpose or bread flour

Directions:

1. Get all required ingredients measured out.  Measure the yeast into a large mixing bowl.  Warm the water (about 65 seconds in the microwave should do it). 
2.  Add the warm water to the yeast and stir until the yeast has dissolved. 
3.   Add the sugar and stir until it has dissolved.
4.  Put the eggs, butter, and potatoes in the water mixture.  First blend in the eggs, then butter, and then potatoes.
5.  Once mixed, sift in the first 4 cups of flour and salt.  Mix with blender.
6. Now, sift some of the remaining flour on your work space.  Pour the bread mixture on the flour.  Sift some more flour on top.
7.  Use your hands to knead the dough:  knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
8.  Make the dough into a nice smooth ball.
9.  Place the ball in a greased bowl and cover the bowl tightly.
10.  Refrigerate dough at least 8 hours, but no longer than 5 days.
11.  After refrigerated, divide it in half, shape each half, let rise until double in size, and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.