Easy Bread

One thing I've learned over the years of being married, is that when we run out of bread, there is no need to panic or rush out and buy more. 

 

You can make your own using staples that we all have in our pantries, it's so easy and believe me, SO much better than store bought. This one takes a little bit of time, so you have to plan ahead because it has to sit overnight. 

EASY BREAD

 

1 1/2 c. water 

3 c. flour 

1/4 tsp. yeast 

2 tsp. salt 

 

Mix all ingredients in a big bowl until all the ingredients are wet, that's it. Once that is done, cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight. Next day, sprinkle flour on the counter, put the dough on the flour and sprinkle a little on top, stretch it in one direction then fold it in thirds, gentle.....stretch in the other direction, fold in thirds again then roll it over. 

 

Gently shape it into a ball, put in a greased pie plate, spray with a bit of oil, dust with a little of flour and cover with plastic wrap, let it rise for 2 hours. After 2 hours, place another pie plate at the bottom of the oven, fill with ice cubes, it will create steam which will help the bread cook, bake bread for 10 minutes at 500 F, then turn heat down to 450 for another 10 minutes, then turn down to 350 for another 10 minutes. 

 

What I like to do at the end of the cooking time, is to remove the bread from the pie plate and place it directly on the oven rack (or you can put a piece of foil down and place it on there), then let it cook for a little longer until the bottom of the bread gets nice and brown too. Once done, place bread on a cooling rack and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing.