From the recipe box: No Knead Bread

10.13.14- 

  Today I'm sharing one of the easiest & tastiest comfort food recipes I know.  I was introduced to this beautiful bread a few years ago & have been making it ever since. This is such a great bread to make when you want to make homemade bread but don't really have the time, impress your dinner guests or give to a neighbor. There is nothing hard about this recipe other than just some planning ahead.  I like to mix it all up, leave over night & finish it the next day.  

3. C. all-purpose flour. 

{For wheat bread substitute 1 or 2 C. of wheat flour, just depending on what you like}

1/4 tsp. Instant Yeast

1 1/4 tsp. Salt

Cornmeal

In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 C. warm water, and stir until blended, dough will be shaggy & sticky.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12-18 hours at room temperature. {The ONLY hard part about this recipe is remember to plan ahead}

Dough is ready when it's surface is dotted with bubbles. {as above, this was after 15 hours} Lightly flour a work surface & place dough on it, sprinkle it with a little more flour, fold over once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap & let rest 15 min.

Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface & fingers, gently shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel {NOT terry cloth} with cornmeal.  Cover with another cotton towel & let rise for 2 hrs. 

  

At least 1/2 hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6-8 Qt. covered pot in oven as it preheats.  When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven  {CAUTION remember the pot is hot use hot pads} Slide your hand under towel & turn dough over into pot, it may look like a mess, but that is ok. Shake pan once or twice to evenly distribute the dough.  Cover with lid & bake for 30 min., then remove lid & cook for another 15 min. more or until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

  Enjoy!

This is wonderful paired with a yummy soup {We like this one!} or hot saucy pasta or a dinner salad.  You can't go wrong with it & it always looks so pretty.  Served it up on this vintage paper cutter that I bought at The {Fall} Hive.  Makes for an interesting bread board, don't you think.  

{M}