Gather ingredients: flour, water, yeast, salt, and optional sugar or oil
Mix warm water with yeast and let it sit until foamy
Combine flour and salt in a large bowl
Add the yeast mixture to the flour
Mix until a rough dough forms
Knead the dough until smooth and elastic
Place the dough in a greased bowl
Cover and let it rise until doubled in size
Punch down the dough
Shape the dough into a loaf or rolls
Place the shaped dough in a baking pan or on a baking sheet
Cover and let it rise again until puffy
Preheat the oven to the correct temperature
Bake until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped
Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack
Slice only after the bread has cooled