Need a bread — QUICK!

If you’ve been following me at all during this nasty COVID time, you know I’ve been working out my quarantine frustrations by making meals for my local home-bound seniors — and others who are just not going out but need a nice homecooked meal. Last weekend I got off schedule because I needed to get away from things and headed out into the local woods for some “river time” to regroup and rewind.

So, this week I was “behind” on my breadbaking when it was time to make some soup. I had all the ingredients for my Italian Sausage, White Bean and Kale Soup, but crap…what to make for a bread?

I fell back to a nice English Muffin Bread that I’ve made regularly when I had limited ingredients and time. Not only is it awesome “as is” with a little soft butter melted into the warm slice, but it’s incredible toasted later and even MORE better (yes, I used that — it’s my recipe!) if you use it as the bed for your favorite Eggs Benedict version. Give it a shot and let me know how you like it!

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English Muffin Bread

All the flavor of your favorite English Muffin in an easy loaf-baked version

Course: Breads

Keyword: bread from scratch, breakfast sandwich, easy bread, easy home baked bread, eggs benedict, english muffin, loaf pan bread

Servings: 2 loaves

Author: Corinne Gregory Sharpe

Ingredients

• 4 tsp active dry yeast
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 cup warm milk 4% (whole) is ideal, but 2% will work fine
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 5 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• fine ground cornmeal optional

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients except cornmeal (if using) in your a mixer until ingredients are thoroughly combined. The dough will be wet and sticky and that's normal.
• Spray the loaf pans you are using with cooking spray. If you like, dust bottoms of loaf pans with a little cornmeal for a more authentic English Muffin texture.
• Using lightly wet hands or a greased/wet spoon scoop/pour the dough into a large, greased loaf pan. If you only have standard loaf pans, divide dough in half for each of two pans. Sprinkle a little cornmeal on the top and lightly press it in (I mean LIGHTLY — you don't want to deflate your dough)
• Put your loaf pans in a warm place to rise. An oven with the light on is perfect. There is no need to cover the dough. Allow to rise for 45 minutes or an hour.
• Bake in a 375°F oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove bread from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool.

Notes

While the bread is awesome eaten as-is, it’s even better toasted! And, if you really want to make an easy version of Eggs Benedict, use a toasted slice (or two) as your base!  Topped with Canadian Bacon, regular bacon, sauteed spinach or anything you can come up with, your very own home-baked loaf will be a superior bed for your Bennie than any store-bought muffin!