Easy Artisan Bread

Photo Credit:Amazon-Allison (San Francisco, CA) 

My Mother, Elizabeth, has taught me how to make the most wonderful loaf of Artisan bread.  This is a delicious and frugal alternative to store bought Artisan bread! The texture is what is so unique about this bread.  You just have to try it! All you need is a cast-iron dutch oven, flour, yeast, salt, water and cornmeal....and about 4 minutes of your time.  It's that easy!

EASY ARTISAN BREAD

3c flour
1/4 teaspoon yeast
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
cornmeal

In a large bowl mix flour, yeast and salt.  Add 1 and 5/8 cups water. Stir until just mixed. Dough will be sticky. Cover bowl of dough with a towel and let it sit overnight (12-18 hours) in a room at about 70 degrees.

Coat a towel with cornmeal or flour. Turn dough out onto the towel- it will be sticky--Sprinkle cornmeal or flour on top.  Cover with another towel.  Let rise 2 hours. When ready dough will have doubled and will not spring back when poked.

At least 1/2 hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put dutch oven in to heat.  When dough is ready, remove pot from oven. Turn dough into hot pot.  It may look a mess but that's ok.  Shake pan to distribute dough.  Cover with lid.  Bake 30.  Remove lid and bake longer if loaf needs more browning.  Cool on rack.

It's so delicious!  Enjoy!