Here is my bread recipie:
1/4 cup warm water, 1 Tbl dry yeast, 1 tsp sugar.  Proof these.
3/4 cup warm water
4 tsp salt (teaspoons! not tablespoons...too much salt will kill the yeast)
2 Tbl olive oil or melted shortening
3 to 3 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
When yeast is proofed, add rest of ingredients and just 2 cups of the flour.  Mix well and then add more flour until it is no longer sticky, then kneed until smooth and elastic.
Put a dash of oil into a large pan, bowl, or I use an ice cream 5qt plastic pail.  Put in dough and swirl around to cover dough and sides of pan with oil.  Cover and set aside to raise.  The more you punch down this recipie and let it raise again, the better it tastes in the long run.