UKRAINIAN WHITE BREAD

1 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup water 110% to 120
1 pkt yeast
4 cups boiled water, cooled to lukewarm
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. melted shorterning or butter
11 1/2 cups unbleached white flour or bread flour

In a cup mix sugar, yeast and water. Let sit 10 min. Combine with yeast mixture with boiled cooled water, sugar, salt, butter and 6 cups flour. (use mixer - paddle) or by hand and beat smooth. Cover with a plastic bag and let rise 1 1/2 hours (in a closet is good, put a towel under to keep it warm).

Attach hook on mixer and put this in (the sponge) and add remaining flour slowly 1 cup at a time while kneading. Knead about 5 min. Put in a a bowl (plastic is good) stainless bowl from mixer is cold) cover with a plastic bag - in a warm spot to rise double - about 2 hours. temp. should not be over 80 or 85%. deflate gently, cut in 3 pieces. shape into loaves and into well greased pans (or use spray). cover lightly let rise double. (a pilot light in oven is good (or heat an electric oven about 40 seconds and shut off).

400 oven bake 15 minutes, lower to 350 bake 45 min. longer - or for crusty keep at 400.

From Traditional Ukrainian Cookery by Stechishin. I am Ukrainian and do a lot of baking....good luck. Anna