personal bread loaves

1 packet dry active yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tbsp sugar

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp salt
cheese!

in a small bowl, put in sugar. heat water up to about 100 degrees (very warm to the touch, but not hot), and stir into the sugar using your finger.
pour in active yeast, stir with finger. set aside in a non-drafty place for ten minutes while yeast activates. you can tell it's activating because you will hear it start churning and smell a strong yeast smell after about 30 seconds. you'll then see it roiling and bubbling up.

in a mixer, pour in 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and oil. mix until flour is all mixed in. add yeast mixture, and then 1/2 cup flour and cheese. slowly put in the rest of the flour (1/2 cup at a time) until it's a solid dough ball. spill out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about five minutes until elastic-y (it will spring back when you touch it). if the dough is sticky, add more flour.

oil up a large bowl, put dough ball in it, turning it to cover it with oil. cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place where it won't be disturbed for about 40 minutes. once it's doubled in size, punch it down, then make 4 individual loaves. put the loaves on a sprayed cookie sheet and let double again in a draft-free area (about 30 minutes). preheat oven to 375. bake for about 15 minutes.

optional: you can add an egg white coating (1 part egg white, one part water) if you want it to be shiny on top. doesn't make a difference for taste or texture.