Buttermilk Bread
Submitted by elsa on December 19, 2007 at 11:23 pm

5 1/2 - 6 1/2 cups flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons yeast
1 cup water
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup buttermilk (I substitute 4 Tbs. dry buttermilk and 1 cup water)

Place ingredients into bread machine bucket according to manufacturer's instructions. Set on "dough" cycle. When machine reaches "rising" stage, remove dough from bucket and place in bowl, covering with plastic wrap.

When dough is doubled in size, remove, punch down and shape into two loaves. Place into two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf pans and let rise again until almost doubled.

Bake in 375 oven for about 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks