I’m convinced if you’re going to call yourself a good cook, there are things you should just know how to do. Baking the best chocolate chip cookies in the world is a great start. If you can do that, you’re on the right track. Then there’s a homemade chicken noodle soup, that’s important too. A killer marinara never hurts, and you’ll be everyone’s favorite person in the world if you can assemble a dish like these Grilled Caprese Baguettes in the summer (Pause to day dream with me, for just a moment).
Yet there was that fickle thing tormenting me in the back of my mind. I’d hear about others doing it; I’d seen it on other blogs. The crusty warm golden perfection that is homemade bread. What was I so afraid of?
This was ridiculous. I can bake. So after a little prompting from my mom, I unearthed a recipe that yields a perfect round warmth of goodness from my very own red dutch oven. As if I needed another reason to madly love that thing more. Now it’s giving me and the boys homemade bread? Swoon.
Is it scary? No. Hard? No, not at all. In fact it was painfully easy. So easy I have a feeling this will be in our weekly repertoire. It’s the perfect thing to make when the temps outside make you want to cry. Slowly rip off a large heavenly chunk, dunk it in a soup, and winter just got a tad bit more tolerable. Oh, and hey – YOU just made homemade bread.
You so rock.
- 3 Cups bread Flour
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 Cup warm water (between 105 and 110 degrees)
- Whisk flour and salt together in a 3-4 quart bowl with a tight lid. Pour dry yeast in the warm water and let it sit for 5 min.
- Next, pour water/yeast into flour and salt and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough is mixed well. The dough will be quite sticky and shaggy looking, but that's ok. Cover the bowl and set aside for 12 - 18 hours (up to 24).
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place a cast iron dutch oven with the lid into the oven while preheating and heat the pot/lid for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, scrape the risen dough from the bowl onto a heavily floured surface. Dough will be sticky.
- With floured hands, gently shape dough into a round loaf making sure there is enough flour on the surface so dough doesn't stick. Let the dough just sit there until your pot is preheated.
- Take the hot pot from the oven and gently place dough into pot. Cover with the lid and return to the oven and bake for 30 min. Remove the lid at that time and return the pot to the oven for another 10 - 15 min. Gently shake the loaf onto a cooling rack and enjoy.
- You made homemade bread!
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Courtney
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I can almost smell it! I love home-made bread. You are right- it is ridiculously easy. It is also insanely addictive. Turned out perfect, Courtney!
Twitter: wendyjy
says:
that is how I make mine! I’ve also added cheese, garlic, rosemary…nom nom. With some good olive oil or aged balsamic, prosciutto, some cheeses, tomatoes, fruit and a bottle, er I mean glass, I have myself dinner at least once a week!
Oh Wendy – tell me more! Do you just add the extras to the dough before baking? This sounds heavenly and also life changing.
Twitter: sweetjanelouise
says:
Wow … I hadn’t thought about soda bread for long time. My mum use to make this. I think I’ll give it a go for St Patrick’s Day this year. Now for an Irish stew recipe… Thank you for sharing!
Jane recently posted…How to Paint a Garden Pot using Chalk Paint
Twitter: kuskatdesigns
says:
This recipe looks very easy and simple to make. It has been a while I made some bread and this looks like a good reason to start over again 🙂
Kuskat recently posted…Easter egg hunt small treats gift bags
I’d just like to frame that picture of bread… looks amazing!
Mela recently posted…Michigan Cherry Wine Spritzer
Ah, your comment made me smile – thank you! 🙂
Twitter: mstoodygooshoes
says:
Nothing like fresh bread! Thanks for linking up at Best of the Weekend!
Twitter: savingsanely
says:
This looks great and so much easier than most recipes I have seen. I’m always seeing recipes that require a bread maker, which I don’t have. Thanks! Found your post on Show Me Saturday!
Saving Sanely recently posted…One Pot Sausage and Cream Cheese Pasta
Twitter: simplycat76
says:
I love the rustic look of this bread, crusty on the outside! Yummy! I love how simple it seems, I am going to give this a tried! PINNED 🙂 and so glad that I stopped over from the skip the housework link party! 🙂
Cathy
Cathy recently posted…Sweet Cereal Snacks