Hawaiian Bread and Strawberry Butter

"Bread is the warmest, kindest of all words. Write it always with a capital letter, like your own name."

-from a cafe sign

Oh how I love fresh homemade bread. I confess, I often let the bread machine do the heavy lifting. I like to bake it in the oven, though. It may be because my bread machine isn't the greatest, I'm not sure. But I prefer the results from baking it in the oven.

I was craving some good bread as a vehicle for spreading some strawberry butter, something I have blogged about before a very long time ago, (before I paired it with strawberry bread, so if you want to be in a strawberry coma check that out.)

I love strawberry butter. Just a compound butter that is sweet and a bit salty if you used salted butter, which I usually do in this recipe. But it is oh so decadent. A wonderful Spring treat if you ask me.

Purchasing yeast this way is only 3 bucks and change and lasts over 2 years

I buy yeast in this big 2 lb bag. It's only 3 bucks and change at Costco. I recently had to throw out my last bag purchased about 2 1/2 years ago it had finally lost it's potency, but I hadn't even used half the bag. If you bake bread frequently, even if you don't plan on using all of this, it's certainly a better deal than buying those little packets for about 1.50 for 3. That means if you bake more than 6  loaves over a 2 year period than it's worth the purchase.

Better still, split it with another bread making friend or 2.

Store it in an airtight container in the fridge, lasts longer there.

I've always loved Hawaiian Bread. This version isn't too sweet. Just a touch so.

Hawaiian Bread and Strawberry Butter

This recipe is for a bread machine. I personally use a bread machine for the dough, then bake it in the oven.

Ingredients for bread

1 cup (250 ml.) warm milk
1/4 cup (55 g.) soft butter
2 eggs
1/3 cup (77 g.) sugar
3 1/2 cups (550 g.) flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast, or 1 packet
1 tsp salt

Directions

Place all ingredients in bread machine in order recommended by manufacturer. Mine is liquids first, then dry ingredients. The order the ingredients are listed is how I add them to mine.

If you want to bake the bread in the machine, then choose the appropriate cycle. If you want to bake it in the oven, then select the dough cycle.

If you have selected the dough cycle, when the dough is finished, remove it from the machine, and place it in a greased loaf pan. Let it rise until doubled in size. Then bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, 180 degrees Celsius, or Gas Mark 4 for 40 minutes. When it's finished brush the top with melted butter if desired.


For Strawberry Butter

Ingredients

1 cup (155 g.) sliced fresh strawberries
1 cup (230 g.) butter, softened and cut into tablespoon sized pieces
1/2 cup (90 g.) sugar

Place the strawberries and sugar in a bowl and stir. Let sit for 5 minutes. Place all ingredients in the food processor and let er rip. After a few minutes scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure all has been incorporated. Start again if needed.

Place butter in a jar or container and place in the fridge. This is best served at room temperature so if you are making it ahead of time, then make sure to give it time to set on the counter before serving.

This made me 2, 8 oz. jars. This butter freezes well, just bring to room temperature before serving.