Gather ingredients: flour, water, yeast, salt, and optional sugar or oil
Mix warm water with yeast and optional sugar
Let the yeast 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 on a floured surface until smooth and elastic
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise until doubled in size
Punch down the dough
Shape the dough into a loaf or rolls
Place the shaped dough in a greased pan or on a baking sheet
Cover and let it rise again until puffy
Preheat the oven
Bake until the bread is golden brown
Remove the bread from the oven
Let the bread cool before slicing