I used to bake great bread. I have never been a fan of bread machines and I love working with the dough. I have a Julia Child’s Baking Cookbook and I have made most of the bread and they all turned out beautiful. Then we moved to Kansas City and just about every yeast dough I have made has turned into a floppy gluckly mess! I have no idea why. It’s not because of the humidity as I grew up in Memphis. It’s not an elevation problem. I haven’t a clue what has been going on. Have I lost my touch? I was beginning to think so. At least until this loaf of bread. This glorious, beautiful, tasty, wonderful loaf of bread. It was so easy to make that as soon as I finished the first loaf I went ahead and made a second one right away. And it was just as good as the first! I did make one change to the recipe on the second loaf from the original recipe. It was a bit too salty and those were the comments left on the blog. So the recipe I give you here is with less salt. I found this recipe on Just Another Day in Paradise blog and it is a fool proof wonderful recipe. Take a closer look.
This bread was great on it’s own with just a little butter but it was even better when I made Grilled Cheese with and it was out of this world when I made French Toast with it!!! That post will be coming soon. Can you see how dense the bread is and that wonderful perfectly crisp crust? I see no reason that I should ever buy a loaf of artisan bread again. Just imagine all the possibilities with just small adjustments to the recipe. I think the next time I make this I am going to press herbs onto the top of the dough just right before baking. Oh that will be so pretty when it comes out of the oven!
I really really hope that you will make this bread. I am telling you it is SO easy and so wonderful.
Ingredients
- 3 and 1/2 cups of BREAD flour (this is important not use AP)
- 2 tbs of yeast (I don't use the packets I buy my yeast in a jar)
- 2 tbs sugar
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 and 1/2 tsp kosher salt {Original recipe called for 1 and 1/2 tbs}
Instructions
- Proof yeast: place the sugar and yeast in the bowl you are going to mix it all in {a stand mixer is best}
- pour the warm water over and give a quick whisk
- let it rest for about 8-10 min until it starts to foam up. {If you don't get any foam by 10-15 min your yeast is dead}
- Place the dough hook on and slowly add the flour/salt one cup at a time
- the dough will be sticky but let the dough hook do most of the work for you
- let it run about 2 min {don't over beat or your dough will be hard}
- on a floured surface gently knead the dough about 5 times
- grease a bowl and place the ball of dough in
- cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise for 30 min
- preheat the oven to 400 with your dutch oven inside
- gently rub flour on to the dough on all sides
- cut 3 slits in the top
- once up to temperature take the dutch oven out and gently place the dough inside
- don't punch it down {it may make a small pop sound when transfer it. that is ok}
- bake for 30 minutes covered at 400
- then remove the lid and let bake for 10 more min to brown the crust up
- when you remove your bread from the pot you will have the most beautiful looking loaf you have ever seen
You can find me at these wonderful parties each week!
