It has been almost a month and I thought I’d never make bread worth eating. I’d almost given up and had been content on eating my lunch-meat with tortilla wraps from here on out. Then my buddy Mark sent me an easy, no-knead bread recipe. This renewed the challenge and I then also scoured the internet for a sandwich bread recipe as well. If I’m going to fail again, better make it a twofer. After two earlier failed attempts at bread making and swearing the devil lived in my oven I had to give it at least one more try (honestly I would keep trying until the end of my days, having too much pride to be defeated by yeasty flour). It was on.
I had decided to try the no-knead recipe first as it was the least involved, just mix it and set it. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour
¼ tsp instant yeast (rapid rise)
1 ¼ tsp salt
1 ½ cups of warm water
Cornmeal or wheat bran
Coated cast iron Dutch oven
Directions: In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients. Stir in water slowly. Mix with hands until you have a doughy consistency. Place in bowl covered with towel and let rest for 12-18 hours.
After 12-18 hours have passed, lightly flour your work surface. Place dough on work surface, sprinkle with flour and fold over once or twice. Shape the dough into a ball. Coat a cotton towel with corn meal or wheat bran. Be generous or your bread will stick to the towel. Put the dough seam-side down on towel, sprinkle with cornmeal. Cover with another towel and let the dough rise for 2 more hours.
About a half hour before the dough has fully risen place Dutch oven into the oven and preheat at 450 degrees F. When oven has preheated place dough into Dutch oven and cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove lid and bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove and place bread on cooling rack. Let stand for 10-20 minutes then serve. Bread can be stored in the freezer for a month sliced or whole.
This recipe makes for nice artisan style bread great for serving with dinners or eating on its own. I prefer a softer crusted bread for sandwiches and will show you how to make that in Part II of Bread Wars.
*original recipe source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Ah9ES2yTU
Single Ingredient Project 
