No Knead Bread

There's no question that adulting is hard.  Bills, jobs and responsibilities that simply cannot be avoided. 😩 Remember when you were a kid and you couldn't WAIT to grow up and become an adult?  And then you reached adulthood and had the stunning realization that you had to pay taxes and buy insurance? 🤷🏻‍♀️ And don't even get me started on the worsening eye sight and you the fact that the older you get, the more everything hurts... for a little longer. 😅 #ifyouknowyouknow  

No one is arguing about the fact that growing old is hard - and in my case, NOT graceful. 🤣 It's not all bad though.  I have been blessed beyond measure and I'm  grateful for my health, my friends, my family, my job, etc. etc, etc. which helps me navigate through this thing called middle age. 

I've learned that an afternoon of exploring and adventuring outside in the fresh air is therapy when I get overwhelmed by adulting.   I can't explain why, but for some reason, spending time in nature is my de-stresser and it makes me feel like a kid again.  

​Ben and I spent last weekend "playing" at Banning Mills.  It was the best little mini vacation and exactly what we needed.  We tromped through the woods on a 3 hour hike with no clear direction or preparation - very unlike the adult me.  😂 

We also got behind the wheel of these swincars last weekend.   Speeding 30 miles an hour, through the woods while dodging trees and traversing suspension bridges is enough to make anyone feel like a kid.  🏎 I definitely didn't possess the mental or physical dexterity that should be required to keep oneself safe while operating this vehicle but somehow I managed - and it was amazing.  ​

​Our day of hiking, driving and general adventuring was so much fun but it had an irrefutable effect on my appetite. 😬 Unfortunately, I didn't anticipate this when I made our, later than usual, dinner reservations for later that evening.   Let's just say, that by the time we sat down at the table, I was ravished and maybe even a little hangry.  😅  

Most days, I try and limit my consumption of white bread.   But on 3 hour hike days - I make an exception. 🚶🏻‍♀️Bring me all of your rolls, baguettes and flatbreads with extra pats of butter and bowls of richly flavored olive oil.  😂🥖  I figure, if I'm going to eat carbohydrates in the form of bread - I might as well enjoy them to the fullest. 

True bread fanatics know that value of a freshly made loaf of homemade bread.  In the world of me - there's very few other foods that tempt me more than a thick slice of bread - fresh out of the oven.  There's just something so warm and comforting about crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside - homemade bread. 

If you're as passionate about bread as I am - I recommend this no knead bread recipe.  It relies less on yeast and kneading than a traditional yeast loaf but it's equally delicious.  Follow my super easy step-by-step instructions to make this yummy bread for yourself. 

No Knead Bread
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon yeast
3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons water
6 Tablespoons lager beer
1 Tablespoon white vinegar

Whisk together flour, salt and yeast.  

Add water, beer and vinegar. 

Mix until shaggy dough forms.  

Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 8-18 hours. 

Knead dough 10-12 times by hand. 

Shape dough into a ball.  

Place a greased parchment circle in a 10" skillet.  

Transfer dough to skillet, cover with plastic wrap and let rise 2 hours. 

Lightly flour top of dough.  

Make a 6" slit in top of dough.  

Lift dough, with parchment, and place in a dutch oven.

Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes at 425. 

Remove lid and bake 20-30 more minutes or until loaf registers 210 degrees.  

Cool 2 hours in pan before removing. 

I'm throwing it back to the early days of this pandemic when everyone was baking their own bread at home, with this recipe.  (At least I think that's what everyone was doing with all the flour they were buying.  😅🤷🏻‍♀️)  If you happened to miss bread baking bandwagon of 2020 - or if you just want a new and easy bread recipe - this loaf is for you.  🍞
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Caio!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe