Buttermilk Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon active dry yeast (not instant!)
2 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 -5 cups bread flour (can substitute all-purpose flour)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar

Preparation

Mix the yeast and water in the bowl of your mixer and let proof for 5-10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the buttermilk and butter over low heat until the butter melts.
The mixture will look badly curdled- don't worry, that's what happens when buttermilk is heated.
It will be fine.
Mix the salt, baking soda and sugar into 1 cup of the flour.
Pour over the yeast, and mix until thoroughly combined.
Put the bowl on your mixer with the dough hook attachment, add another cup of flour and mix until the flour is incorporated.
Keep adding flour until the dough comes together and is no longer sticky.
Then let the dough knead in the machine 5-10 minutes.
Take out of the bowl and finish kneading by hand until the dough is smooth.
Turn into a buttered bowl, cover with plastic wrap, then a towel, and then let it sit to rise until doubled.
Punch down the dough, divide and shape into 2 loaves, then place in greased loaf pans.
Set aside for the second rising.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake the loaves until done, about 30-45 minutes.