Homemade Bread (Courtney Stott)

Ingredients:

​Makes 2 loaves

• ​​3 cups Luke warm water
• 1 table spoon instant yeast
• 6.5 cups bread flour or all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon salt

1) Ingredients

2) All ingredients mixed ready for first rise (step 4)

Directions

1. Mix the water, yeast, and salt in a big bowl with a fork or a wooden spoon
2. Add four cups of flour and mix aggressively
3. Add the remaining flour in three increments and mix after each increment. Dust your hands with flour and mix with your hands if it is easier. This bread does not require kneading. 
4. cover the bowl with a tea towel and leave on the counter for 2 hours until the dough doubles in size. This is the first of two rises.
5. Once doubled in size, coat your with a generous amount of flour and place the dough on the counter
6. Cut the dough in half with a knife and shape it 
7. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet or in a loaf pan and put the dough on it
8. Cover with a tea towel and let the bread rise one last time for 45 minutes. It should double in size
9. After the double rise, preheat the oven to 450 and place a cake pan (do not use glass) with 1 cup of water and put on the bottom rack. The steam will help the bread to expand while it is baking. 
10. Bake for 30-32 minutes Until the the crust is browned
11. Brush with butter or olive oil, cut, and enjoy!

3) After first rise

4) Step 5/6

5) After second rise

6) Final product!