My Ukrainian cookbooks have been advocating a much easier version for milk breads for 60+ years. Scald the milk or cream. Add a cup of flour right into the hot milk from stove, beat until smooth. Strain into large mixing bowl if there are lumps, and let cool to lukewarm. Premix instant yeast with a cup of flour before adding. To use water just boil it in kettle. Add a cup of flour to measured boiled water in large mixing bowl. I don't usually get lumps. Let cool to lukewarm. Premix instant yeast with a cup of flour before adding. Either way I do not get a paste. I get a smooth pudding like mixture.

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