This simple bread recipe from the Great Depression takes only a handful of ingredients, is easy to prepare and quite delicious! This is my go-to bread!
Let’s get started!
We are using one pound of flour which I weigh on a kitchen scale. Depending upon the type of flour, the humidity in the kitchen, the time of year will determine how much flour you use. Sometimes I only need 1-1/2 cups of flour, and sometimes it’s almost 3 so weighing for this recipe is the best. It’s ok if it’s slightly over one pound.
Combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Stir.
Add water slowly, stirring in between.
Add enough water to create a dough. Once shaggy looking, it’s time to knead.
Knead until dough is just lightly tacky, but not sticky. Add a sprinkle of flour if needed. Drizzle oil over dough.
Place tea towel over top and place in a warm oven until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Here the dough has risen beautifully. It should have at least doubled in size.
Lightly punch the dough down, shape into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Let rise for 30 minutes.
Now, it’s time to bake. Bake at 350F for 40 to 50 minutes or until golden and sounds hollow when tapped.
Remove from oven and let cool about 5 minutes.
Remove from pan and place on cooling rack to cool completely before slicing. Makes 1 loaf. Look at that beautiful loaf of bread!
Depression Bread
1 lb flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp instant yeast
1/2 tsp salt
Enough warm water to make a dough
Combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Stir. Add water slowly, stirring as you pour. Add enough water to create a dough. Knead until just lightly sticky. Sprinkle oil over dough, place tea towel over top and place in a warm oven until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Lightly punch the dough down, shape into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Let rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 350F for 40 to 50 minutes or until golden and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from oven and let cool about 5 minutes. Remove from pan and place on cooling rack to cool completely before slicing. Makes 1 loaf.
enjoy from Our City Homestead to yours“If you have extraordinary bread and extraordinary butter, it’s hard to beat bread and butter.”
— Jacques Pepin
