For years, I have baked large quantities of my breads and rolls to sell and serve. I have baked over 20,000 loaves in the past 17 years alone. (Years 1984-2001)

Whenever people have found out it was my breads and rolls, they were usually the first ones sold. 

These recipes have been developed over the years from the comments from my customers (yes, people call and ask me to bake breads for them). They told me what was the best tasting, the best texture, and appearance that was most appealing to them.

It was not uncommon for me to bake the equivalent of 80-100 loaves in a day. Many people have asked - Do you have a commercial oven? When I say " 'No', I have one just like yours in your own kitchen, just a regular oven with my kitchen range." They could hardly believe it would be possible, for me to bake so many loaves a day out of just one regular sized oven. 

I can arrange my bread pans in my oven so I can bake six loaves at a time ( or 2 - 9" X 13" cake pans) - all on one shelf. I used a timer and had a routine, down pat. Then I put bread in pans every half hour (30 minutes), which was the length of time it takes to bake a one pound loaf, then after the raising, I would start baking. I had bread going into pans, or into or out of the oven every 30 minutes. 

WOW! It would take about 12 hours for 90 - 100 loaves - start to finish! And all of this was done by hand. I mixed and kneaded and etc., all by hand. Great exercise for the upper back! 

I don't bake in such large quantities any longer or for such long periods of times. I unfortunately have developed an allergy to flour and am unable to bake except for small batches (4-6 loaves) and then only after taking allergy medication. My family is really bummed about this. 

Hopefully, you won't ever have to time your baking of breads so closely, but if you need to, you know that it can be done. You will use some of my timing methods for the large batches of breads but for the small quantities you won't have to bother. 

All these breads and rolls freeze well and just take a minute or two to thaw in the microwave oven or about two hours sitting on your kitchen counter. 

For working men and women, who like home-made goodness for your families, but can only bake once a week or every two weeks, these recipes will come in very handy. The advent of Bread Making Machines have caused people to enjoy the smell and taste of homemade bread.

For most, these "machines" are too expensive and only make one loaf at a time. With a family, they just won't suffice. This is why I decided to let you learn. A step by step - how to make bread, like women and men have done for years. HANDMADE! 

I can do many other household chores while waiting for the bread to raise or bake. I do NOT recommend any of the following as they are just to dirty: Gardening, repotting plants or cleaning the bathroom!! Some things that I like to do are: fold and put away laundry, dust, pay bills (ech!), write letters, some types of needle work, etc. Just to name a few. 

These things can be easily stopped when the breads need your immediate attention. Everyone knows what works best for them. For me, these recipes have been very good. Hopefully they will be for you too.

So get busy. What you waiting for? Mix a batch or two and enjoy the best breads ever! Mostly, because you made them yourself, with your own two hands that God gave you, and a loving heart! 

I can smell the bread a bakin' already! 

A Bread Baker from the Heart! 

Penny

Note added 2004 - Unfortunately I've developed diabetes and since I control it by diet and exercise. 
Breads are no longer a part of my diet.
Also because the allergy to wheat has increased I avoid wheat products totally.