Tried It Tuesday: Homemade Bread! YUM!

Hey everyone! This is my FIRST EVER link up! I'm so very excited :) I'm linking up with Holly over at Fourth Grade Flipper for her Tried it Tuesday for July. This will be the only time in July that she does it, so make sure to head on over and link up if you "tried" something you want to share!

My "tried-it-Tuesday" is based on the premise of me not liking any type of store bought bread. I have tried them all and it just grosses me out! All of those preservatives and weird-unpronounceable ingredients!? I always feel as though the bread just tastes fake! Now, I have not ALWAYS been like this- so those of you thinking I've lost my marbles (you may be right) but not about this! This all started about a year ago when I made my first ever homemade bread. 

Oh for-the-love-of-baking! The aroma permeating through my house that day could have made anyone salivate. There is just nothing like the smell of the rising dough, the baking dough, and then that fresh-hot-out-of-the-oven bread! If you have never made your own bread- WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! Go RUN to your kitchen and make some bread. Here is a picture of the bread I made almost a year ago that changed my mind (and taste buds!) forever :)

I mean seriously- look at that beautiful crust and delicious honey dripping down the sides :)

Perfectly cooked! It was the best bread I had ever had!!

This bread that I'm making today is delicious for sandwiches, toast, or even better- french toast :) I grabbed the recipe from Darla over at Bakingdom, which is also where you'll find the first recipe for the bread above! :)

Here are a few pictures of the process today- 

 After doubling in size- time to turn it out onto a floured surface!

After patting it into a rectangle- roll the dough up starting at one of the short sides and pinch the dough on the ends to seal it up as you go- this will ensure a high rising, gorgeous loaf!

TADAAA!! :) 

I also rolled mine just a tad back and forth, and pinched that small part you see on the bottom closed to make sure!

As the loaf sits on the counter for it's second rise, I can already imagine the delicious, warm, melt-in-your-mouth piece of bread that I always sneak before it cools all the way! I followed this recipe from Darla's site, but I tweaked it a little to try and make it a little healthier for the Mr. and I. Instead of doing the full 3.75 cups of all-purpose flour- I substituted 1.5 cups of whole wheat flour and 1.25 cups of all- purpose. I'll be sure to let you all know how it turns out. In the meantime- please go on over and check out her blog and recipes! This bread was SO simple and I bet you have all the ingredients! :) 

Just a warning- you'll never turn back to regular, store-bought bread! :)