Making bread is so easy and fun! Try it at least one time! Our first loaf has been turned into: french toast, garlic bread, sandwiches, and cheese toast. We're still learning but it's a fun process.
I'll make it even easier by giving you ingredients and directions right here for one large loaf.
2 cups warm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
4 cups unbleached bread flour
2-3 tsp salt
2-3 tsp olive oil
2 tbs chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp kosher or sea salt
oven
bowl
wooden spoon
plastic wrap
9 in oven proof skillet
Put water into a large bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the water then stir until dissolved. Stir in 2 cups of flour and salt, stirring for about 2 mins till mixture is smooth. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the remaining 2 cups of flour for about two minutes until the flour is all mixed in and the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl and forms a ball. If the ball is too sticky add more flour.
Cover the dough in plastic wrap and let it rise for 30 minutes in a warm place. Or you can let it rise slower in the fridge overnight so it will absorb more yeast flavor then take it out 2 hours before shaping the bread and let it stand in a warm place to rise again.
Knead the dough then section or shape it however you prefer. In this case easiest thing here is one big ball. We pinched a edge of the ball and worked it underneath, then pinched another edge and worked it under again until we just had a beautiful round ball of dough.
Brush the dough with olive oil then sprinkle with the rosemary and sea salt. Put the dough into the oiled skillet.
Preheat oven to 500 F. Place skillet in oven then reduce oven to 400 F. Bake for about 30 - 35 min until the bread is browned and sounds hollow when you tap it with your finger. Remove loaf from pan and cool on rack.
Be proud of yourself and eat your homemade bread!
