Miracle Bread

This bread recipe was given to my mom years ago by a woman who worked in an inner city mission. As she encouraged city ladies and taught them homemaking skills, this is one of the recipes she used. They would roll the dough with a soda bottle since they didn't own a rolling pin!

This recipe makes a chewy Italian style loaf and is perfect for beginning bakers. I think I was about ten when my mom taught me to make this bread.

There isn't anything particularly "miraculous" about it, so don't worry if you aren't feeling very wonder-working! But if you have never made bread, pulling a fragrant loaf of homemade bread from the oven, can truly seem like a miracle!

Part 1
2 cups boiling water
2 T butter
2 T sugar
2 tsp salt

Cool to lukewarm.

Part 2
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 T active dry yeast
1 T sugar

When part 1 is cooled, combine it with part 2. Add 6 to 6 1/2 cups of flour.
Mix well. Place in greased bowl and roll dough to grease the top of the dough.
Let rise for 30 to 60 minutes.
Divide dough in half and roll out as you would pie dough.
Roll up as a jelly roll. Place it on a greased baking sheet.
Make diagonal slits across the top with a sharp knife.
Do the same with second ball of dough. Let rise about 1 hour or until double.
Beat 1 egg and 2 T milk. Brush egg mixture over top of bread.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Try to let it cool before cutting into the loaf! Bet you can't! This bread is awesome with butter and a sprinkle of garlic powder!