Sun and Bread

Today in the Northwest, it was beautiful. Perfect. It was the weather we have needed since the horrific snow storm in December. We finally mowed our lawn, cleaned up the yard and opened up the windows in the house. I think we must have played outside for 5 hours straight. We would have BBQ'd if our tank was full.

Instead, for dinner we had this fabulous bread that my mom has been raving about for weeks. She found the recipe in a Mother Earth magazine and loved it so much she bought the book, Artisian Bread in 5 minutes a day.

I'm not a huge fan of making bread. Yeast freaks me out. It's too complex. Too easy to screw up. But finally, I've found one that I can't get wrong.

Here's the basic recipe:
3 cups lukewarm water
1 1/2 TBLS yeast (this is 2 packets, I measured)
1 1/2 TBLS salt
6 1/2 cups flour

Mix together in a bowl with a spoon. You may have to use your hands for the last part. And then put a towel over it and let it sit on the counter for 2-4 hours. Then place in the fridge over night. Pull off pieces as needed and it will stay in the fridge, in dough form, for up to 2 weeks!

I've used this for cinnamon rolls, bread, and pizza dough. For all of these, take out, roll or shape into desired loaves and let sit for 30 minutes to come up to room temperature, then bake. For Cinnamon rolls (350 degrees until golden brown - 35 minutes or so), for bread (450 degrees on a pizza stone for around 25 minutes), and for the pizza dough (450 degrees until pizza is done - about 15 minutes). There is even a video tutorial if you need one.

Read their blog and website. It's great and I am sold on buying the book. I can't wait to make cinnamon bread from the buttermilk dough.

If I can do this bread, you all can too. It's so easy and delicious!