Homemade Bread
Homemade Bread
There is nothing like the smell of hot bread in the oven and this simple recipe will have you making it over and over again!
The secret to obtaining a crunchy crust and moist interior is by placing a shallow pan of hot water on the bottom rack while baking and baking at a fairly high temperature.
This bread freezes well and can be re-warmed in the oven for a few minutes – it will be just as freshly baked! Enjoy!
Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour (can be half whole wheat)
2 tsp quick active yeast
2 tsp sugar
1 3/4 cup warm water
3 tablespoons oil
2 tsp salt
Place flour, yeast and sugar in a stand mixer
attached with a dough hook.
At low speed mix together the dry ingredients.
Combine the oil and water and slowly pour half
of it into the mixer at low speed.
Let it mix together and then add the salt.
Add the remainder of the water. Let the mixer
knead the bread slowly for about 10 minutes.
Lightly flour a board and knead the dough by hand for about another 10 minutes .Oil the mixer bowl and put the dough back in and let it rest 1 hour or 2 hours.
Gently remove the dough from the bowl and cut into 2 pieces.
Roll each into a log , trying to keep the shape.
Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and let rise 1
more hour.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a shallow dish of hot water
in the oven on the bottom rack. This will help the bread form
a nice crust.
Cut slits into the bread and bake for about 40 minutes
Keep am eye on the bread as it bakes. If using a convect oven you may need to turn over the bread to get an even coloring, half way through the baking process.
Enjoy warm and freeze any leftover!
