To the Bowl, add water, yeast and sugar. Let stand 5 minutes until you see the yeast bloom. To the yeast add the margarine/butter and the salt. Now slowly add the flour one cup at a time, mixing it in fully before adding more until it is all in.Mix it all in using your hands. The dough will be soft and tacky but not sticky. If it is sticky, you can add a but more flour. Once the ingredients are combined, turn the flour out onto a clean counter top and knead it with your hands until it passes the window pane test.
Make The Dough - With a Mixer (2x and 3x)
To the Bowl, add water, yeast and sugar. Let stand 5 minutes until you see the yeast bloom. To the yeast add the margarine/butter and the salt. With the dough hook attachment in place, turn mixer on to it's lowest setting, mix in the flour one cup at a time until incorporated. Remember to keep the mixer on its lowest setting the whole time - increasing the speed will be too hard on your mixers motor! Once the flour is all incorporated, let the mixer knead the dough for 10 minutes. Check to see that your dough passes the window pane test.
Proof The Dough
Spray the bowl you mixed the dough in with cooking spray (canola oil) make sure to coat the dough ball with oil as well. Then cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm draft free location for about 1 hour. You will know it is risen enough when the dough has doubled in size. Another way to tell if your dough has risen enough is to poke it with your finger. Make a ½" indentation. If the indentation stays then the dough is risen enough. If it springs back, let it rise a bit longer.
Shape the Dough
Once Dough has doubled in size punch it down. Take a 9" pan(s), and spray with cooking oil spray.* If you are doing 1x 1 pan, 2x 2 pans, 3x 3 pans.*If 2x or 3x Divide the dough accordingly to equal portions.pick up the piece of dough and flatten in your hands to roughly create the shape of a standard letter sized piece of paper. Then fold this into thirds like you are folding a piece of paper to go into an envelope. (See Video for example and other methods of shaping) Do this to each piece of dough. If using saran wrap, then spray tops with cooking oil before covering.
Rise Again
Once you have your dough in their pans, cover them with a clean kitchen towel or saran wrap. Place them in a warm and draft free location. You will let them rise anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. They will have doubled in size and if you poke the dough with your finger about half an inch in, the indentation will remain. If the dough springs back, let it rise more.
Bake
In a preheated oven set to 400°F or 205°C Bake the loaves on the center rack for 27-30 minutes. Once complete, de-pan and cool on a rack before slicing.
Video
Notes
Which Recipe Measurements To Choose:Choose the 1 x Option if you are doing this by handChoose the 2x Option is you electric stand mixer's Bowl is 3-5QTChoose the 3x Option if your electric stand mixer's bowl is 6Q+Red River CerealI originally made this recipe with a product called red river cereal. It has been discontinued. There are other options that you can use that are similar to Red River Cereal. Or you can leave it out entirely. It is great to add if you want more fibre. All it is, is a blend of cracked wheat, rye and brown flaxseeds. Other brands currently sold: SunnyBoy Hot Cereal and Bobs Red Mill 10 Grain Hot Cereal. If you are using cereal add it in right before adding any flour.1x ⅙ of a cup Cereal2x ⅓ of a cup Cereal3x ½ cup of of cereal.