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I have recently had some extra time to try out new recipes. It helps to have the girls home over the summer! I made this recipe because I was busy cleaning and I did not want to shower, get all done up, and then drive to the next town to buy buns. That would take too much time out of my day.

I was going to make some Italian Beef Sandwiches for dinner but I forgot to get buns. I knew I had plenty of flour and yeast so I asked myself, "Why couldn't I make them myself?". Homemade bread is one of my downfalls. I love the smell of homemade bread. I am however lazy in the kitchen so my family gets to eat very tasty but ugly foods.



These are my very ugly but yummy homemade buns.

YOU WILL NEED

• 2 envelopes active dry yeast
• 3 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 8 cups all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Add 1 tablespoon sugar; let stand for 5 minutes.
2. Add remaining warm water and sugar. Mix in oil, salt and 4 cups flour until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
   
3. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.
4. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. (I find that the perfect place is my above the stove microwave with the light under it turned on. It warms the microwave up perfectly)
5. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into equal pieces.
   
6. Shape each into an oval. Place 2" apart on greased baking sheets. (Mine are ugly because my lazy method was to flatten the dough and just cut into pieces with a pizza cutter)
7. With a knife, cut a 1/4" deep slash across the top of each. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 20 minutes.
   
8. Bake at 400F for 13-18 minutes or until golden brown.

Kids love playing with dough so this would be a great one to get the kids involved with. The kids can help knead the dough and shape the buns.