We are a bread loving family so trying to keep bread in the house while avoiding the supermarket is no easy task.
With time on my hands, I have tried repeatedly to make a nice loaf of bread with little to no success. But I did not give up and finally have a winner!
A ham bone in the freezer and beans in the pantry calls for a good hearty bowl of soup with a slab of warm crusty bread. Turning to the experts at Food Network I discovered a recipe with step-by-step videos. How can I go wrong?
Ingredients
2 envelopes dry active yeast (1 1/2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 cups warm water (divided)
3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons salt
Canola oil, for greasing bowl
Cornmeal, for dusting pan
3 to 4 ice cubes
After mixing it up and putting the ball of dough into a bowl, I let it rise.
After about an hour it was ready to form into loaves, no kneading needed.
Here are the loaves shaped and ready for the second rise.
Covered then left them to sit for 45 minutes, until double in size, and they are ready for the oven.
Bake in a 450 degree oven about 25 minutes. This is where the ice cubes come in. Putting the ice cubes in the preheated oven creates the steam to make the nice crust. I have heard that a pan of water will have a similar effect.
After a few minutes, I brushed the tops with melted butter to give them a delicious shine. Pretty impressive don’t you think?
These came out amazing. While a nice crusty loaf of french bread might be better for soup, these baguettes work great for appetizers or split lengthwise for a sandwich or toasted garlic bread.
Miss Judy Writes 