Easy Bread Recipe

This recipe actually evolved from a pizza dough recipe. I was looking for something akin to focaccia, and thought I'd play around a bit. The beauty of this is that it raises in the refrigerator. Just stick it into a plastic bag and loosely tie the top shut loosely, leaving room enough for the dough to double in size.

Tip for new cooks: you want the water to be just a bit above warm, being careful that it's not too hot. I once ruined a batch by inadvertently killing the yeast with too hot water.

1 T granulated yeast
1 ¼ c warm water
1/3 c oil
1 T salt
4 – 5 cups flour
Melted butter

Put yeast in bowl; add warm water and stir to melt the yeast. Add the oil and salt and stir.

Add 4 cups flour and mix with a fork. Add more flour until you have a dough.

Put dough onto floured surface and need until it holds together and is shiny. Put the dough into a plastic bag with enough room for the dough to grow. Put it into the refrigerator for at least an hour to raise.

Divide dough into halves. Shape each half into a loaf and put onto a baking sheet. Make slits in the top of the loaves and baste with butter.

Bake at 400 for 40 – 50 minutes, basting with more butter occasionally. Loaves will be brown and sound hollow when you tap them when they are done. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack.

You can make all kinds of variations on this basic recipe. For example, add a handful (about ¼ cup) of dried italian herbs, a handful of dried basil, ½ cup or so of grated or shredded parmesan cheese, sliced olives, a couple heads of baked garlic that's been mashed, etc. Add dry ingredients with the flour, moist ones after the flour's been blended in.

It's a very forgiving dough, so just let your imagination go.

jlm