Bread for Alice

By Linda Romero Criswell

This is the easiest bread in the world to make. All you have to do is give it time to rise. Let it grow, in other words. You will mix the ingredients a full 24 hours before you bake the bread.

You will need a heavy oven-proof pot with a lid (like a Dutch oven or covered casserole pot with high sides) and a sheet of parchment paper.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons warm water (for proofing yeast)

¼ teaspoon dry yeast

3 c white all-purpose flour

1 c whole wheat flour

1 ½ teaspoons salt

3 cups warm water

rice flour (optional)

Mix ¼ teaspoon dry yeast with 2 tablespoons lukewarm water. Set aside for 15 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix the white and whole wheat flour with the salt.  Add the yeast mixture that has been resting for 15 minutes.  Add an additional 3 cups warm water and mix with a wooden spoon or with your hand.  The mixture will be very wet and soupy.  Cover it with a towel or plate and let it be.

Periodically throughout the day, turn the dough over with your wetted hand or a wooden spoon.  You will see that it’s becoming more elastic and holds together better as the day progresses.  Do this every few hours if possible—but if it’s NOT possible, do it when you can.

If by nighttime the dough is rising like crazy and you think it might overflow while you sleep, turn it one more time and put it in the refrigerator overnight to slow down the rising process.

The next day, take the dough out of the refrigerator and let is sit at room temperature for half an hour in a steep-sided bowl or a basket that’s been dusted with flour, preferably rice flour.

BAKING:

Put the baking pot and lid in a 450 degree oven and heat them up for at least 20 minutes.  Dump the dough onto a piece of parchment paper.  Make a few cuts in the top to let steam escape.  Put the parchment paper into the heated pot, set the lid on top, and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove the lid and continue to bake for another 30 minutes. Done!

It’s hard to do, but wait half an hour before slicing the bread! It’s still cooking, even after it’s taken out of the oven.