Kwik White Bread

‘Eating lots of white bread raises the risk of a cancer that kills thousands of Britons every year … those who eat five slices a day are almost twice as likely to develop the most common form of kidney cancer compared to those who have one and a half slices.’… or so says that putrid voicepiece of everything that is vile, negative, decayed, bigoted and cancerous in Middle England, the Daily Mail.

Fortunately the deadly effects of white bread can be neutralised by a generous application of full-cream salted butter.

… and who eats ‘one and a half slices’ of bread anyway?

Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus 45 minutes to an hour to prove
Cooking time: 30 – 35 minutes
Skill level: easy
Makes: 1 large loaf

Ingredients

• strong white flour – 500g
• fast action yeast – 2½ tsp
• caster sugar – 1 tbsp
• salt – 1 tsp
• sunflower oil – 2 tbsp
• milk powder – 2 tbsp
• warm water – 300 ml

Mix the flour, milk powder, salt, sugar and yeast in a large bowl.

Add the oil and enough of the warm water to form a soft dough.

Knead well on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Put in an oiled (2lb) loaf tin, cover loosely with oiled cling film and leave somewhere warm for 45 minutes.

Remove the clingfilm and place in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes. The loaf should be lightly browned and sound hollow when tapped.

Turn out and leave on a wire rack to cool.

Verdict: A tasty everyday white loaf ideal for both sandwiching and toasting.

Drink: The perfect companion to a nice cup of tea.

Entertainment: Listening to Blogger-D playing ‘Band I found on MySpace or … Dickens character’. Actually ON the radio. Talking to Jon Holmes and everything.