Bubble Bread

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 4 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 package dry active yeast
• 6 cups all-purpose flour, about
• 2 cups water
• butter or margarine
• thyme leaves (optional)

Recipe

• 1 about 4 hours before serving or up to 2 days ahead: in large bowl, combine sugar, salt, yeast and 2 cups flour.
• 2 in 1 quart saucepan over low heat, heat water and 3 t.
• 3 margarine or butter until very warm (120 –130 – butter does not need to melt completely) with mixer at low speed, gradually beat liquid into dry ingredients just until blended.
• 4 increase speed to medium; beat 2 minutes, occasionally scraping sides of bowl with rubber spatula.
• 5 beat in ¾ cup flour to make a thick batter – continue beating 2 minutes, scraping bowl often.
• 6 with wooden spoon, stir in 2 ½ cups flour to make a soft dough.
• 7 turn dough onto well floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, working in more flour while kneading (about ¾ cup).
• 8 shape dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl, turning so that the top is oiled.
• 9 cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour – until doubled.
• 10 (dough is doubled when 2 fingers, pressed lightly into dough, leave a dent) punch down dough and turn onto lightly floured surface.
• 11 cover dough with bowl and let rest for 15 minutes for easier handling.
• 12 meanwhile, in small skillet over medium heat, melt 4 t.
• 13 butter.
• 14 set aside.
• 15 grease 10 inch tube pan.
• 16 cut dough in half; cut each half into 16 pieces.
• 17 shape each piece into a ball by tucking the ends under.
• 18 place half of balls in tube pan brush with half of melted butter, sprinkle with half of herbs (optional-- my family does not like the thyme version).
• 19 repeat with remaining dough, butter and herbs.
• 20 cover with towel and let rise until doubled – about 1 hour.
• 21 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 22 bake 30 –35 minutes until loaf sounds hollow when tapped lightly with the finger.
• 23 cool loaf in pan on wire rack ten minutes.
• 24 remove loaf from pan and serve warm.
• 25 or, cool loaf and wrap in foil – heat for 10-15 minutes before serving.