Plain, Boring, Easy, Homemade Bread

Add the yeast and sugar to the warm water and let it sit for a few minutes.

You'll know if your yeast is alive if it starts to form little bubbles.

Add the flour to a large bowl, make a well in the centre and add the yeast mixture.

Stir with a wooden spoon until combined, and then use your hands to bring the dough together. You may need to add a little more flour or water, to make the dough soft and springy, but not too sticky.

Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and knead well for 5+ minutes.

Form the dough into a rough ball shape.

Brush a bowl with olive oil and place the kneaded dough into it, turning it over to coat the top of the dough with oil.

Cover with cling wrap or a damp cloth and leave it somewhere warm to rise. It needs to double in size and will take around 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

Or - Put the ingredients in the breadmaker container and set your bread maker to the 'dough' setting. The bread machine will mix the dough ( check after a minute to see if you need to add more water), knead, and rise the dough.

Once the dough has had it's first rise, 'knock the air' out of the dough by kneading it for a few minutes until it has gone back to it's original size and is nice and soft and stretchy.

Grease a large loaf tins and line it with baking paper.

Form the dough into a rough loaf shape and pop it in the tin.

Brush the top with olive oil and place it in a warm spot to rise again.

The second rise should take around 30 minutes and the dough should rise up to almost the top of the tin.

While you are waiting for the dough to rise for the second time, preheat your oven to 200 Celsius.

Bake the bread in a preheated oven for around 30-40 minutes, or until it is golden on top and cooked through.

Turn the bread out of the tin as soon as it is cooked and allow it to cool on a wire rack before slicing.