french country bread

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons salt

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Ready Time: 2 hrs 40 mins


• the night before baking the bread prepare this starter: in a medium sized non-metal mixing bowl dissolve 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast in 1 cup warm water. add 1 1/2 cup bread flour and mix well. cover and let sit overnight at room temperature.
• the next day: in a large mixing bowl, dissolve the 2 teaspoons yeast in the 2 cups warm water. add the starter mixture, the whole wheat flour, 3 cups bread flour and the salt; stir until well combined. add the remaining bread flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. when the dough has pulled together, turn it out a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans. deflate the dough and turn it out a lightly floured surface. divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. place the loaves into the prepared pans. cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes. preheat the oven to 425 degrees f (220 degrees c).
• bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.