Jim,
I don't know what the window pane test is, never have used it, as I
bake basic breads but have been doing so for close to 30 years. I
usually knead my bread dough using my faithful KitchenAid mixer. It
takes about 7 minutes to knead the dough using the mixer. By hand it
should take about 10 to 15 minutes, at a good guess, until the dough
is elastic. I used to knead dough by hand but it's been a long time.
To knead by hand, fold and turn the dough 1/4 turn, until the dough is elastic.
Also, I stick to using bread flour or use King Arthur AP flour.
Finally, I now make bread using the food processor. I have a 14 cup
Cuisinart and a 12 cup KitchenAid food processor. Both make two
loaves of bread using 3 cups flour for each loaf. For this method, I
add all the dry ingredients including the yeast, and give the food
processor a whirl. I then add the liquids and then carefully knead
the dough. it only takes a couple spins to knead the dough. Then I
let the dough rise, shape, rise again and bake.
I learned to bake using the 1951 and 1956 Betty Crocker cookbooks.
Both have good directions and photos on how to bake bread.
Mary