Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 8x4-inch or 8x5-inch loaf pan.
In a small bowl, combine the yeast, 1 teaspoon white sugar, and the 1/4 cup warm water. Reserve to the side and allow the yeast to bubble up.
Combine 2 cups of the flour, the egg, vegetable oil, 1/4 cup sugar, salt and one cup water in a large bowl and stir well.
Reserve the remaining 2 cups of flour for another step.
Add the yeast mixture to the larger bowl and mix until the lumps are gone.
Add the reserved 2 cups of flour and stir well.
Cover the bowl with saran wrap and allow the dough to rise.
Once the dough has risen to twice it's size, fold the dough in and place in the greased loaf pan.
Bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake an additional 15 minutes.
Remove pan from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
Serve warm with jam or butter.