Inexpensive, easy homemade baked bread

The results? Look at the pictures. I ended up with a bread that was crusty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. A great bread to serve with a meal or to dip in olive oil. You’ll notice that the edges of my bread are a little too crispy. Don’t blame the recipe. That’s the result of me needing to be outside on this past beautiful Saturday instead of being in the kitchen watching the bread at the end of its baking. I let the time get away from me and the bread spent a little extra time in the oven.

• 3 cups of flour (plus more for dusting)
• ¼ tsp yeast (yes, only ¼ tsp)
• 1 ¼ tsp salt
• 1 5/8 cups water

How is it done?

1. Mix all ingredients together and put in bowl covered in plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature for about 18 hours or until the dough is dotted with bubbles.
2. Place dough on a floured surface. Turn it over a couple of times on itself, cover with plastic again and let sit for 15 minutes.
3. Form the dough into a ball and place on well-floured cotton towel. Cover with another cotton towel. Let it raise for two hours.
4. Place in a pot with a lid that has been heated in a 450 degree oven and let bake.

I’ve made lots of bread before — in my bread machine. Baking bread in my oven is something I’ve been meaning to try. I’m still going to learn other techniques for baking bread, but I’m definitely going to continue to work with this recipe. I encourage you to give it a try, too.