Bea's Favorite Homemade Bread Or Buns

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1/3 cup bacon drippings, melted and cooled to room temperature
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 5 1/2 cups flour
• 2 (8 ounce) packages instant yeast

Recipe

• 1 if mixing by hand:pour all ingredients, in order listed in large bowl.
• 2 mix together with a wooden spoon.
• 3 knead on a floured surface until smooth and elastic adding flour if necessary, about 10 minutes.
• 4 if using stand mixer:pour all ingredients in stand mixer bowl, in order listed.
• 5 using dough hook, on setting number 2, let knead 10 minutes.
• 6 next steps are the same for both methods:.
• 7 place dough in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm draft free spot (i put mine inside my oven with light on) until doubled, about 1 ½ hours.
• 8 remove dough from bowl and punch out on a floured surface.
• 9 if making loaves, cut dough in half and place in 2 greased bread pans.
• 10 if making buns, cut into 16 equal portions and place on 2 greased cookie sheets. make sure to leave enough room for rising.
• 11 let rise again until doubled, about 2 hour.
• 12 if making loaves: bake in a preheated 400 degrees fahrenheit oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.
• 13 if making buns: bake in a preheated 400 degrees fahrenheit oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown.