Recipies

2 cups warm water
2 tsp salt
2 tsp yeast
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp olive oil
4 1/4 cups flour
Butter for glazing, optional

Instructions
In a large bowl add the warm water. Add the salt around the edge of the water, gently stir the edges of the water. Sprinkle the yeast on top of the water. Then sprinkle the sugar over the yeast. Cover bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes as the yeast activates and becomes foamy.
Add all the flour (sifted) to the water. Usually I am adding flour with one hand and mixing with the other. Knead for 5-8 minutes until all the flour is incorporated and no lumps. When hand gets sticky run it under warm water (don't dry hand) and continue kneading. Add the olive oil and knead for another minute. Cover the bowl and leave in a warm area. The dough needs to rise 4-5 hours.
Two times during the rising process gently push dough down, removing air bubbles. I usually do it 1 1/2 hours after kneading and 1 1/2 hours hours after that. It doesn't need to be exact, somewhere around there.
Grease your pan, I just use baking spray. Shape the dough into a loaf and place in the pan. Let rise an 45 -60 minutes, or until it doubled in size and over the rim of the top of pan. Bake in a preheated oven to 375°F 45-55 min.
When baked remove bread from pan and place onto cooling rack to cool. Once bread has cooled a bit, take butter and glaze the top of the loaf, this is definitely optional but we like it this way…
Enjoy..
Valentina's Corner