Toss me a good bread recipe would ya Bob? Havent made a loaf in years....
3 cups bread flour (or all purpose)
1 tsp active yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 1/2 c. Hot tap water
Mix the dry, add the hot water and combine. It's a really shaggy, sticky, dough
Flour your hands and the bowl and roll the dough around the bowl to form a ball
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 3-4 hours. I put mine in the oven. No heat obviously.
Sprinkle flour around over the top and around the sides of the bowl as you release the dough and knead gently to punch it down. No need to knead a whole lot. ( no need to knead.....I like that)
I bake mine in a round 3 quart Corning casserole lined with a sheet of parchment paper. Dutch oven or soup pot works just as well, but you'll have to pre heat a Dutch oven. Either way it needs a lid. Just tear off a sheet big enough to completely line the pot and plop the dough in the center. I think it adds some air space around the loaf. It ends up crispy all over.
The lid keeps the moisture in . Works better than a sheet pan with water.
Put the dough in the parchment lined pot , cover and let proof for 20 minutes or so while the oven is coming up to temp.
Bake covered 30 minutes at 400*
Remove the cover and bake 10-15 minutes depending on how crispy you like the crust.
Remove and cool on a rack (if you can stand it)
Super simple and makes a crusty artisan loaf every time. Great for toast, even better for French Toast......which is what we plan to have for supper tonight.
It takes about 5 minutes to make the dough. Even my Daughter ( whom I love dearly) can make this bread and she can't cook a can of chicken noodle soup.
I haven't tried it but I'm thinking this dough would make really good rolls or French Bread. Someday I'm going to pop for a clay Cloche.
Enjoy!
Rg
