Olivia’s Recipes

Simple bread recipe.

1.5 cups warm water
2 teaspoons yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
Mix together
Let rest for 10-15 min until it is foamy
Then add
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
Mix/ knead together for 4-5 minutes

Cover bowl with damp towel and place in a warm place. Most ovens have a “proof” setting which basically is the oven light on to create some warmth. This will help the dough rise faster. Place dough in oven or warm to let rise 45 min to 1 hour or until doubled.

Once doubled, beat down and shape. Get a proofing basket or small/ medium mixing bowl and heavily dust with flour. When dough is nicely shaped, dust top with flour and place dough upside down in bowl.

Let rise for 15 minutes while oven is preheating to 450 degrees. If you have a Dutch oven, place dutch oven in the oven to preheat.

Once oven has reached 450 degrees, gently flip dough onto parchment paper and dust off excess flour.

Using a very sharp knife or scoring blade, make one nice score down the middle or side of dough. About 1/4-1/2 inch deep.

Pick up parchment paper and gently place it in the Dutch oven then cover.

A Dutch oven basically acts as a steamer. It will keep the steam from the dough contained and will allow the dough to rise fully before a crust is formed.

If you do not have a Dutch oven, just place your dough on a cookie sheet/ baking tray and take 1-2 ice cubes and throw them in the bottom of the oven. Or allow a baking tray to preheat in the oven below where you will put your bread. And when it is time to put your bread in the oven, pour 1/4 cup water into tray or ice cubes.

This will help create steam in the oven to delay the formation of the crust which will allow the bread to rise fully in the oven.

Bake 25 minutes in Dutch oven with lid on. After 25 min, remove lid and bake for another 20 to darken the crust.

No Dutch oven: bake for 35-40 minutes until golden/ light brown.

Enjoy 🙂