Recipe #3: Boule Bread

Will grew up in Italy and bread as we know it in the states didn't really exist, instead, they feasted on the delicious heavy crusted bread and baguettes, both of which tend to be overpriced in the average american supermarkets. So when I happened across the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day in my mom's house and instantly was curious to find out if it was really that easy. The authors, Hertzberg and Francois, worked long and hard to make the recipe simple and I appreciate their troubles!

This recipe is only one of many in the book and I look forward to trying more. Of course mine doesn't turn out like the pictures, but I don't have all the great equipment either, if it seems like this is something we will start making often I might invest in some stuff, but no point in filling up the kitchen cupboards with more stuff that I won't use! :)

the recipe is simple:
3 cups lukewarm water
1.5 Tbsp yeast
1.5 Tbsp kosher salt
6.5 cups flour Do not pat the flour down, just "scoop and sweep"

• First mix the yeast and salt in the water. You don't need to make it dissolve completely.
• Add the flour, I used the dough hook on my mixer, but a wooden spoon would work great too. Mix until everything is evenly moistened
• Then cover with a lid and let it rise. I waited about 2 hours. It probably would have been better to wait a little longer, but I was a little eager! Make sure you have a big container! I picked one i thought would be too big, but it turned out to be just the right size!  
• Cut off a piece of the dough, about a 1lb worth. The authors compared it to a grapefruit.
• (The rest of the dough can go in the fridge, and will last for the next two weeks, homemade bread everyday? yes please!)
• make sure your hands are floured so it is not too sticky, and then pull at the sides a bit and turn it under to make the nice little ball shape. 
• Let it sit for about an hour. after about 20 minutes, preheat the oven to 450. I just used a cookie sheet for this time and i went ahead and put it in so it would be warm. Also add a little container for water. 
• Before putting the bread in the oven flour the top and cut some slits in it. i did the tic-tac-toe pattern. 
• Add a cup of water to the container so that the bread can steam, I guess it helps with the crust. 
• anyways, 30 minutes later I pulled it out of the oven! 

we devoured it with some rosemary and pepper olive oil dipping sauce! It was really delicious! Nice crackly crust and soft in the middle! I couldn't even wait for it to cool all the way I was so curious to eat some!

If you want to try the recipe I would definitely check out the book because they give a lot more tips on how to make it work so easily! I think I want to get their companion book Healthy Breads in Five Minutes a Day. If I am going to eat this much yummy bread, it might be nice to use some whole grains! :) 

But in the meantime, I will enjoy making a loaf whenever because there is enough for another 3 loaves! So easy and so fabulous!