Artisan Bread

Today marks the start of week 4 of kitchen renovation.  All things remodel seem to be going along as planned - everything that used to be normal, is out the window at this point. 😅I'm starting to get used to people buzzing in and out of what used to be a VERY quiet house, all day.  Washing dishes in the laundry room is even starting to feel like normal.  And I've totally embraced the dust and given up on cleaning anything until we're officially out of this remodeling season. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 😂

As you can imagine, making meals is anything but "normal" since starting this project.  Just to give you a visual - picture me juggling a bowl and a whisk in one arm, flipping pancakes on the stove with the other hand and balancing a plate on which to place said pancake on a 3" ledge with my knee.  😅  Heaven help the person who mentions the word blueberries.  🤣

Obviously, there's no bread baking going on in this house right now.  For reasons that I cannot explain, making bread is therapeutic for me and it's one of the things that I'm really missing.  Getting my hands in the dough and kneading out my frustration, the smell of fresh bread lofting through the house and of course sampling the comforting still warm loaf.  Pure joy.  🥖
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I love baking bread but I know that it can be intimidating if it's not something that you're familiar with.  If you've never tried to make a loaf of homemade bread - and you want to learn - this recipe is for you.  It's super simple and it's almost fool proof.  Use my pictures to help you through the process and if you've got any questions - send me a comment.  I'm here to help.

Artisan Bread
3 1/4 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons instant yeast
2 teaspoons coarse salt 
1 and 1/2 cups cool water

Whisk together flour, yeast and salt in bowl. 

Pour in cool water and mix gently with a wooden spoon or rubber scraper. 

Shape dough into a ball. 

Cover ungreased bowl with plastic wrap and let rise 2-3 hours. 

Place covered dough in refrigerator for 12 hours - 3 days.  Cut dough in half.

Lightly dust a baking sheet with flour or cornmeal. 

Shape each half into a long loaf.  Lay side by side on baking sheet. 

Cover and let rest 45 minutes. 

Score loaves with 3 slashes using a sharp knife.  

Preheat oven to 475.  Place a 9x13" pan on the bottom rack of oven.  Pour 3-4 cups of boiling water in pan to create steam.  

Place bread above pan with boiling water and bake 20-25 minutes. 

Slice when bread is cool.  

I hope that by sharing my love for baking bread, I can make bread makers out of at least a few of you.  The art of bread baking is so satisfying and deliciously rewarding.  I think you're going to love it too. 

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe