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View Full Version : Crusty Bread Anybody?



crashdive123
04-09-2008, 09:45 PM
I love a good crusty bread.

1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting. You may use white, whole wheat or a combination of the two.
1 1/2 tsp salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran for dusting

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the flour and salt, stirring until blended. The dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest at least 8 hours, preferably 12 to 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.
2. The dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it. Sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
3. Using just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to the work surface or to your fingers, gently shape it into a ball. Generously coat a clean dish towel with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal. Put the seam side of the dough down on the towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another towel and let rise for about 1 to 2 hours. When it’s ready, the dough will have doubled in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
4. At least 20 minutes before the dough is ready, heat oven to 475 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in the oven as it heats. When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from the oven and lift off the lid. Slide your hand under the towel and turn the dough over into the pot, seam side up. The dough will lose its shape a bit in the process, but that’s OK. Give the pan a firm shake or two to help distribute the dough evenly, but don’t worry if it’s not perfect; it will straighten out as it bakes.
5. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake another 15 to 20 minutes, until the loaf is beautifully browned. Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-12-01/Easy-No-Knead-Dutch-Oven-Crusty-Bread.aspx

Aurelius95
04-09-2008, 09:58 PM
I'll have to try that Crashdive. One question though: how in the world do you wait 1 hour before eating freshly baked bread? :)

crashdive123
04-09-2008, 10:09 PM
Beer and bacon.

Alpine_Sapper
04-09-2008, 10:13 PM
Beer and bacon.

Outside...Gotta have these outside. Get a couple clay pots and some sand for the beer, and cook the bacon outside. Otherwise the smell of the bread will drive you insane with longing.

crashdive123
04-09-2008, 10:14 PM
http://www.smileyhut.com/excited/rock.gif (http://www.smileyhut.com)

Tony uk
04-10-2008, 03:27 PM
Beer and bacon.

Haggis and whiskey :D

rebel
04-10-2008, 07:31 PM
Thanks Crash. We'll be triing that out Saturday. I can't wait!

crashdive123
04-10-2008, 08:15 PM
Haggis and whiskey :D

Um......LOT's of whiskey!

BraggSurvivor
04-10-2008, 08:31 PM
How bout Tripe and Lemon Gin? My wife is crazy. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/Bructer/loaded.gif

Tony uk
04-11-2008, 10:47 AM
Um......LOT's of whiskey!

WOOO-HOOO :D


How bout Tripe and Lemon Gin? My wife is crazy

Hmmmmmm Tripe is nice, So is lemon gin, I think your wife is a genuis

awfoxden
04-11-2008, 01:49 PM
i tried it - makes a nice loaf. wasn't crazy about the crust - not sure if i put too much flour and cornmeal on the outside prior to the dutch oven? inside was tastey. may also have needed to move the dutch to the highes rack - the botom was a bit hard and discolored.

awfoxden
04-11-2008, 01:51 PM
i was thinking a bit of bacon grease in botom of dutch as you add the dough might make a tasty crust - i'm not much of a baker so i might end up ruining it?

Tony uk
04-11-2008, 06:44 PM
i was thinking a bit of bacon grease in botom of dutch as you add the dough might make a tasty crust - i'm not much of a baker so i might end up ruining it?

The bacon wouldnt ruin the bread, The bread would ruin the bacon

dilligaf2u2
04-13-2008, 12:51 AM
MMMMMMMMM with Bacon!

Don

Rick
04-13-2008, 10:30 AM
Tony!!! The bacon goes between two slices of bread according to the Earl.

crashdive123
04-13-2008, 10:53 AM
The Earl of Sandwich......what a brilliant guy.

Rick
04-13-2008, 12:08 PM
Just think of all the inventions that followed.....tail gate parties.....Monday Night Football....Driving and Eating.....Fast Food (I guess driving and eating would be fast food wouldn't it?) ..... lunch sacks....Where would civilization be today without him?

Tony uk
04-14-2008, 06:11 PM
Tony!!! The bacon goes between two slices of bread according to the Earl.

Bread Piffftttttttt

Forget wasteing your money on that, Use that cash to buy more bacon !