Mmmm yeasty part deaux...

Success! I have had a bread victory. It was a little touch and go there for a minute, but the final product was so delicious that the whole loaf was finished by breakfast this morning! Yeah baby- fresh baked bread+ farm fresh eggs ( thank you Clair-baby!)= french toast breakfast party!
Awesome!


So here's the recipe, and I'm telling you- it's easy.

• 1 1/2 pkg or 1 1/2 tbsp dry active yeast ( I prefer Red Star)
• 1 1/2 tbsp salt 
• 3 cups water ( luke warm- about 100 degrees)
• 6 cups all purpose, unsifted flour, measured using the scoop and sweep method

1. put yeast and salt into water, stir until mostly dissolved. 
2. using a wooden spoon, add flour and stir. when it gets too hard to stir, use your hands to pat the flour in. this should be a very wet dough. DO NOT KNEAD!
3. cover with plastic wrap ( loosely) or a non-airtight lid. Let rise for 3-5 hours at room temp. if it is hot, 3 hours, if it is cooler, 5 hours. 
4. at this point you can either cut off a 1 lb chunk, boule it ( pull the sides down until you have a ball)  scour and bake.  You can also put this into the refrigerator over night and portion the next day.
   
   
   
   
   

Baking instructions- this bread can be baked free form or in a loaf pan. if you are free- forming it, I suggest using a bit of cornmeal to discourage sticking to your pan or bread stone.

1. preheat your oven to 450 degrees for at least 20 minutes. 
2. place a sturd pan on the lowest rack during the preheat. ( if using a bread stone, please place it into the oven during preheat.)
3. put loaf into oven, and pour 1 c water into the lower rack pan, creating steam. Shut the oven door quickly to capture steam. this will make a nice shiny crust!
4. Bake for 35-45 minutes. it is done when you thump it and it sounds hollow. 
5. put to cool on a wire rack and enjoy!

oh- that's the tuna melt I made with my new bread. It was a very satisfying tuna melt. I think I will make my own bread from now on. Next?  Baguette! Batard! Broche!
En avant au prochain projet de pain !