Saturday, November 21, 2009

Easy White Bread Recipe

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/10/bake-your-own-bread


"Dan Lepard's failsafe white bread recipe

You can conjure an impressive loaf with little effort and barely any kneading. Toss in up to 200g of cubed cheddar, crispy bacon, or well-drained pitted olives and some chopped herbs and you will have one of those "wow" breads you see in magazines.
Takes three or four hours.

400g strong white flour, plus more for shaping
1 tsp dry instant yeast, from a sachet
1 tsp fine salt
300ml warm water
oil for kneading

Put the flour, yeast and salt in a bowl, pour in the water (and add any optional extras) then stir into a sticky mass. Cover the bowl with a cloth and leave for 10 minutes. Lightly oil your worktop and hands. Knead the dough for 10 seconds and return it to the bowl. Repeat twice more at 10-minute intervals, then leave in the bowl for 45 minutes. Wipe the worktop, dust it with flour then pat the dough into a rough oblong. Roll it up tightly, pinch each end to keep it neat then place seam-side down on a floured tray. Cover with a cloth and leave for 45 minutes or until the dough has expanded by a half. Flour the top of the dough, cut a slash down the middle and bake at 220°C/fan 200°C/425°F/gas 7 for 35-40 minutes."

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