3 cups water lukewarm
1 1/2TBSP active dry yeast
1 1/2TBSP salt
6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
In a bowl add the warm water, salt and yeast stir.
In another bowl add flour & salt, then pour the yeast mixture over the flour and mix with wooden spoon.
Place the dough in a large container, and cover well. but do not close completely, there needs to be one corner left open to let the gases escape.
Let the dough rise for 2 hours up to 18hours.
The dough will be very sticky and elastic.
Add flour to your hands, and divide the dough in two pieces. Add more flour to your hands as necessary. Shape the dough into the desired shape for your bread and place it seam down in a hot Dutch oven. Sprinkle some more flour on top of the loaves. Let the loaves rest for another 30 minutes so that they can rise a bit.
Preheat oven to 450 F degrees.
Bake the bread for 30covered then about 8-12minutes uncovered til browned and crisp
Cool on a rack.
Jalapeno Cheddar loaf
add half cup grated cheddar & 1 cut cubed jalapenos to your flour/salt at the beginning of recipe. I top with a couple of jalapenos and cheddar before it goes in oven.
