Best bread recipes?

Does anyone have a great white bread recipe that can be made that turns out light and not heavy?


My last bread loaf turned out a bit on the heavy side(cooked in an oven and I used water, yeast and flour) and right now there's no bread to be bought in stores because of transport strikes(Australia).Best bread recipes?
Try this VERY light bread:


(note these measurements are American)


1 cup milk


1/2 cup shortening


1/4 cup sugar


1 teaspoon salt


1 1/2 packages active dry yeast


1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)


4 cups all-purpose flour, divided


3 large eggs, lightly beaten


1 teaspoon vegetable oil


2 tablespoons butter, melted





Heat first four ingredients in a saucepan until shortening melts, stirring occasionally. Cool to 105 to 115 degrees.





Combine yeast and warm water in a 1-cup liquid measuring cup; let stand 5 minutes.





Combine milk mixture, yeast mixture, 2 cups flour, and eggs in a large bowl, stirring vigorously until mixture is blended. Add remaining 2 cups flour, stirring vigorously until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Brush or lightly rub dough with vegetable oil. Cover loosely, and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough is doubled in bulk.





Grease 2 (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 3-inch) loafpans; set aside.





Punch dough down. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead 3 minutes. Divide dough in half. Roll 1 portion of dough into a 12- x 8 1/2-inch rectangle. Roll up dough, starting at short side, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets; pinch ends to seal. Place dough, seam side down, in a prepared pan. Repeat procedure with remaining portion of dough.





Brush loaves with melted butter. Cover loosely, and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough almost reaches tops of pans.





Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped. Remove bread from pans immediately; cool on wire racks. Yield: 2 loaves.Best bread recipes?
Pumpkin bread





INGREDIENTS


1 cup butter or margarine, softened


3 cups sugar


3 eggs


3 cups all-purpose flour


1 tablespoon baking powder


1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda


1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon


1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves


1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg


1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin


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DIRECTIONS


In a mixing bowl, dream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Stir in pumpkin. Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until bread tests done.
My all time favorite bread book is 'Electric Bread'. It is made for a bread machine but can be adapted to conventional baking. The recipes are phenominal, hence the name 'electric' (not the bread machine). It can be found at most booksellers websites.