Crusty Homemade Bread

Ingredients:

1-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1-3/4 cups water (70-75 degrees)
3-1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon cornmeal or additional flour

Directions:

1.  In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water.  In a large bowl, mix 3-1/2 cups flour and salt.  Using a rubber spatula, stir in yeast mixture to form a soft, sticky dough.  Do not knead.  Cover with plastic wrap, let rise at room temperature 1 hour.

2.  Punch down dough.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface; pat into a 9-in. square.  Fold square into thirds, forming a 9 x 3-in. rectangle.  Fold rectangle into thirds, forming a 3-in. square.  Turn dough over; place in a greased bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature until almost doubled, about 1 hour.

3.  Punch down dough and repeat folding process.  Return dough to bowl, refrigerate, covered overnight.

4.  Dust bottom of a disposable foil roasting pan (I used the 9 x 13- do not use a dark pan)  with cornmeal.  (I lined pan with parchment paper because I didn't have cornmeal.)  Turn dough onto a floured surface.  Knead gently 6-8 times; shape into a 6-in. round loaf.  Place in prepared pan; dust top with remaining 1 tablespoon flour.  Cover pan with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature until dough expands to a 7-1/2 in. loaf, about 1-1/4 hours.

5.  Preheat oven to 500 degrees.  Using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4 in. deep) across top of loaf.  cover pan tightly with foil.  Bake on lowest oven rack 25 minutes.

6.  Reduce oven setting to 450 degrees.  Remove foil; bake bread 25-30 minutes longer or until deep golden brown.  Remove loaf to a wire rack to cool.  DO NOT CUT WHILE HOT. The bread will go flat.
yield:  1 loaf (16 slices)  I usually double this recipe

Irish Soda Bread

4 C Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 C Sugar
3 Eggs
2 C Sour Cream
1/2 C Milk
Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease two 8 x 4 loaf pans.  Stir the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt together in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, sour cream, eggs, and milk.  Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture, and stir just until combined.  Divide the dough into the two loaf pans and cook in the oven for 1 hour.