Garlic or Garlic Herb or just Herb Bubble Loaves

Yeah, my family has purchased the garlic bread in the foil that you throw in the oven, wrapper and all. Yeah... this is SO WAY better. It does take time. It's not something that you can throw into an oven next to a frozen pizza when you get home from work. This is more of a Saturday work of art.

This recipe is a combination of two different recipes. 

Bread:
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast (or, instant yeast, in which case, the rising times will be thrown.)
1/4 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
2 cups warm milk (again, 100 to 115 degrees)
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp shortening
2 tsp salt
6 1/4 - 6 1/2 cups flour (I've subbed up to a cup of wheat flour)

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Wait 5 minutes for yeast to proof (bubble.) If the yeast doesn't bubble, it's dead. Start over.

In the meantime, turn on your oven to warm. When it's preheated. Turn it off. 

After the yeast proofs, add milk, shortening, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the rest of the flour to form a soft dough. 

Turn onto a floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic; about 6-8 minutes. (Ok, I admit it, I use my mixer to do this.)

Place in a greased bowl (one that can go into that warm oven, so metal is preferred.) Turn the dough once to grease top. Cover, and let rise in the warm oven until doubled (about an hour)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. 

Punch the dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and divide into fourths. Divide each section into 12 pieces. Shape each piece of dough into a ball, dip in butter mixture of your choice (see below.) Place in two greased 9x5x3 loaf pans (note, I said place, not pack.) Pour any extra butter over the top. Cover, and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes. Pull to eat.

Butter options:

Option 1: Garlic Butter
Mix 1/2 cup melted butter with 1 tbsp dried parsley flakes and 2 tsps garlic powder

Option 2: Garlic Herb Butter
Mix 1/2 melted butter with 8 minced garlic gloves, and 1/2 tsp each of dried oregano, thyme, and crushed rosemary.

Option 3: Herb Butter
Mix 1/2 cup melted butter with 1/2 tsp each of dried oregano, thyme and crushed rosemary