Thirty nine cents. It doesn’t buy much these days does it? Or…does it?

In 1917 ten cents could buy a LOT. I mean like groceries for a week. I’m not even kidding. Ten cents could buy an ice cream soda, eggs, milk, chocolate, coffee, cantaloupe, oranges, tomatoes, a pound of veal, a dressed duck, holy cow!

Thirty nine cents in 2014 can buy three pieces of ten cent candy if you can find it. Or maybe a half stick of gum. Previously chewed. It can also buy ten cent stamps. Not mail the entire letter mind you…just a stamp. OR… believe it or not, it can bake this beautiful loaf of homemade bread. Yes. I am totally serious. Just .39. I would so pay .39 for that.

Ain’t she a beauty? In today’s economy, I think this is the best investment of .39 you will ever make.  Plus, your kitchen will smell heavenly…for FREE. SCORE! Maybe the best part of this deal is what you’re not paying for huh? No additives. No preservatives. Now that’s better than any amount of ten cent candy, pre-chewed gum or postage stamps in my opinion unless you have an addiction to licking stamps or swapping saliva. Stranger things have happened. AND, as a bonus, add an additional .11 and you can throw in this amazing Roasted Red Pepper Butter. Really. I want this.

For the low, low price of only .50 you too can have this amazing loaf of bread, Roasted Red Pepper Butter and a kitchen that smells like a French bakery! WHAT A BARGAIN!

I’m going to stop now. Before I throw in another bonus offer. Or give you a two for one BOGO deal. Or become even more pitiful than the level I have just reached. Now I know how the Shamwow guy must feel. Keep me away from used cars. Sigh.

Homemade White Bread with Whipped Roasted Red Pepper Butter

Bread Ingredients:

• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 1/4 or 1/8 cup sugar – depending on sweetness preference. I use 1/8
• 3 tbsp. butter or shortening
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 package yeast
• 1 egg

Butter Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine of your choice
• 1 tbsp. cream cheese
• 1 jar roasted red peppers, store bought, or 2 home roasted sweet red peppers

  

Directions:

Bread: Add yeast to the cup of warm water. Cover and let sit about 10 minutes or until foamy. Add all other ingredients to your bread pan. Add water with yeast last. Set machine for white bread, medium crust as this will make a 2 lb. loaf. Wait for the beep and enjoy!

Butter: Place all ingredients in mixer and whip well. Serve on warm bread.

* This recipe can also be made without use of a bread machine by mixing your dough in a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. You may choose to hand knead the dough after mixing if you prefer, or just use the dough hook for kneading. Place mixed and kneaded dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about an hour or until doubled in size. Punch down and allow to rise again 30 minutes to an hour. Depending on your bread pans, you may need to divide the dough into two bread pans if they are small. Place dough in a greased bread pan (s), cover with oiled plastic wrap and let rise a final time until the dough rises to the height of the pan (s), about 30-45 minutes. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes until golden brown. The bread should make a hollow sound when tapped.  If  not, place the bread back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.

If you don’t currently have a bread machine, but have an interest, you can find them very handily at most thrift stores. Mine was $10. SERIOUS. SCORE.

This recipe can also be adapted to bake various flavors by adding your choice of herbs and extracts such as Lemon and Rosemary, Garlic, Olive Oil, Thyme, etc. Lemon Rosemary is crazy outrageously good with Homemade Ricotta and honey. Breathe.

I like easy. I love bread! Bon Appetite y’all!