Step 1

Dissolve yeast in the warm water.

Step 2

In a mixing bowl, combine 1 ½cups of flour, salt, oil, and yeast with water, and mix until thoroughly blended. Cover tightly (plastic wrap works well) and let sit for 30 minutes.

Step 3

There are two ways to make the dough: using a mixer, and by hand.

Step 4

METHOD #1:

Step 5

Mixing bowl: (I used this method)

Step 6

Mixing with pastry hooks, slowly add 2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture and knead until smooth. The dough will be very sticky and just needs enough additional flour so it can be handled.

Step 7

Sprinkle a work surface with the remaining ¼ cup of flour and turn out the dough, kneading briefly by hand, pulling in the flour, until it doesn't stick to hands. *make sure your flour is near by to add more as needed. It can be very sticky and you may need to add more flour as you gently kneed it.

Step 8

METHOD # 2: By hand:

Step 9

Add 1 ½ cups of flour to the yeast mixture and combine with hands to form a cohesive dough. Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead in as much of the remaining flour as needed until the dough is smooth and doesn't stick to hands.

Step 10

Make the Loaves

Step 11

Shape into two loaves, place on parchment paper lined nonstick cookie sheet, and place on the middle rack in a cold oven for 15 minutes.

Step 12

Turn on oven to 425°F (220°C) and bake on the middle rack for 40 minutes or until golden. Check loaves at about 35 mins. Every oven is different, so yours may be ready at about 35 mins.

Step 13

Cool on a rack.