Gather flour, water, yeast, salt, and optional sugar or oil
Mix warm water with yeast and let it activate if using active dry yeast
Combine flour and salt in a bowl
Add the yeast mixture and mix until a shaggy dough forms
Knead the dough until smooth and elastic
Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it
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 pan or on a baking tray
Let it rise again until puffy
Preheat the oven
Bake until golden brown and cooked through
Remove from the oven and cool on a rack
Slice and serve