• In a medium (3 cup) bowl, dissolve yeast and ½ tsp of sugar in warm water. Let stand until bubbles form on the surface.

Option 1: Preparing the dough by hand

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together remaining 3 tbsp sugar, salt and 3 cups of flour.
• Stir the oil into the yeast mixture.
• Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and beat until smooth.
• Stir in the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, to form a soft dough.
• Turn the dough onto a floured surface
• Knead the dough until smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes)

Option 2: Preparing the dough in a bread machine or mixer

• Add the oil and yeast mixture first then the dry ingredients. Select the basic white bread setting on the bread machine and allow it to knead the dough. Turn off the machine after the kneading cycle has completed (don't allow it to bake the bread) and transfer the dough to a large greased bowl. For mixers, follow the machine’s instructions for kneading bread dough.

Proofing

• Boil 3 cups of water.
• Place the dough into a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with a tea towel.
• Put the boiling water in the loaf pan and place it on the bottom rack of the oven. If your oven can be set to 100°F do so. Otherwise do not turn on the heat.
• Put the bowl of dough on the rack above the hot water, close the door and allow the dough to rise until doubled (about 1 ½ hours)
• Remove the dough from the oven and turn onto a lightly floured surface.
• Punch down the dough. Divide into three equal parts, shape into a loaves and place in 3, greased, 9x5 inch loaf pans. Cover and return to the oven for proofing. Allow to rise until doubled (about 1 ½ hours).
• Remove pans from the oven and heat the oven to 375°F

Baking

• Return the pans to the oven and bake until golden brown bread sounds hollow when tapped (about 30-35 minutes)
• Remove from pans and allow to cool on wire racks.