Crusty Homemade Bread - With Variations

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/3 cups water
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal or 1 tablespoon additional flour

Recipe

• 1 basic:.
• 2 in small bowl, dissolve yeast in wter.
• 3 in large bowl, mix 3 1/2 cups flour and salt.
• 4 using rubber spatula add yeast mixture, stirring just until smooth (dough will be sticky). do not knead.
• 5 cover with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature 1 hour.
• 6 punch down dough.
• 7 turn onto a lightly floured surface.
• 8 pat into a 9" square.
• 9 fold dough into thirds, forming a 3" square.
• 10 turn dough over; place in a greased bowl.
• 11 cover with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature until almost doubled, about 1 hour.
• 12 punch down dough and repeat folding process. return dough to bowl; refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• 13 line bottom of a disposable foil rosting pan with parchment paper.
• 14 dust with cornmeal.
• 15 turn dough onta floured surface.
• 16 knead gently 8 times; shape into a 6" round lof.
• 17 place in prepared pan; dust top with remaining 1 tablespoon of flour.
• 18 cover pan with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature until dough expands in size to a 7 1/2: loaf, bout 1 1/4 hours.
• 19 preheat oven to 500. using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4" deep) across top of loaf.
• 20 cover pan tightly with foil.
• 21 bake on lowest oven rack for 25 minutes.
• 22 reduce oven setting to 450.
• 23 remove foil; bake 25-30 minutes longer or until deep golden brown.
• 24 remove loaf to a wire rack to cool.
• 25 cheddar cheese variation:.
• 26 prepare bread dough as directed.
• 27 before kneading dough in step 4, sprinkle with 4 ounces diced sharp cheedar cheese.
• 28 cranberry n orange variation:.
• 29 prepare bread dough as directed.
• 30 before kneading dough in step 4 sprinkle with 1 cup dried cranberries and 4 teaspoons grated orange peel.