Ingredients
6 cups flour2 1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 tsp yeast
2 1/4 - 3 cups ice cold water
Day One
Combine flour, salt, yeast, and 2 1/4 cups water in bowl of electric mixture, fitted with a paddle attachment, and mix for two minutes at low speed. If no mixer or paddle attachment are available use a large mixing bowl and a large spoon. Switch to a dough hook and mix for five to six minutes at medium speed. Add just enough water to keep the dough sticking to the bottom of the bowl but not so much as to make the dough stick to the sides of the bowl. If a bread hook and mixer are unavailable knead by hand for six to ten minutes. Oil a large bowl and transfer the dough. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight.
Day Two
Remove bowl from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for two to three hours or longer if the the dough still has not doubled in size. Transfer dough to a floured surface, lightly as not to degas the dough. Lightly form the dough into a rectangle about 8 by 6 inches. With a long knife or a pastry cutter pinch the dough in half (don't saw back and forth). Let rest for five minutes.
Variation One: Pain à l'Ancienne
Preheat oven to 500 or 550 if possible. Set an empty cast iron pan or glass baking dish on the top shelf of the preheating oven. Take one half of the dough, and use the pastry cutter or knife to pinch the dough into three strips. Very carefully, as not to degas the dough, form the strips into long baguettes; if the dough stretches back as you form it let it sit for another five minutes or so. Transfer strips to a baking sheet lightly dusted with cornmeal. Slash dough if desired. Place baking pan in oven and immediately pour a cup of hot water into the heated cast iron pan or baking dish. Careful of the steam; close oven quickly. Wait thirty seconds, before you use a spray bottle to spray the sides of the oven with water. Repeat this step twice more at two minute intervals. After last spraying reduce heat to 475 degrees. After 8-9 minutes dough will turn golden brown. Continue baking for 1o-15 more minutes until the dough turns a deep golden caramel brown. Let cool for twenty minutes before cutting.
Variation Two: Focaccia
1/4 cup olive oilDay One
Combine flour, salt, yeast, and 2 1/4 cups water in bowl of electric mixture, fitted with a paddle attachment, and mix for two minutes at low speed. If no mixer or paddle attachment are available use a large mixing bowl and a large spoon. Switch to a dough hook and mix for five to six minutes at medium speed. Add just enough water to keep the dough sticking to the bottom of the bowl but not so much as to make the dough stick to the sides of the bowl. If a bread hook and mixer are unavailable knead by hand for six to ten minutes. Oil a large bowl and transfer the dough. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight.
Day Two
Remove bowl from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for two to three hours or longer if the the dough still has not doubled in size. Transfer dough to a floured surface, lightly as not to degas the dough. Lightly form the dough into a rectangle about 8 by 6 inches. With a long knife or a pastry cutter pinch the dough in half (don't saw back and forth). Let rest for five minutes.
Variation One: Pain à l'Ancienne
Preheat oven to 500 or 550 if possible. Set an empty cast iron pan or glass baking dish on the top shelf of the preheating oven. Take one half of the dough, and use the pastry cutter or knife to pinch the dough into three strips. Very carefully, as not to degas the dough, form the strips into long baguettes; if the dough stretches back as you form it let it sit for another five minutes or so. Transfer strips to a baking sheet lightly dusted with cornmeal. Slash dough if desired. Place baking pan in oven and immediately pour a cup of hot water into the heated cast iron pan or baking dish. Careful of the steam; close oven quickly. Wait thirty seconds, before you use a spray bottle to spray the sides of the oven with water. Repeat this step twice more at two minute intervals. After last spraying reduce heat to 475 degrees. After 8-9 minutes dough will turn golden brown. Continue baking for 1o-15 more minutes until the dough turns a deep golden caramel brown. Let cool for twenty minutes before cutting.
Variation Two: Focaccia
spices to taste
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Take one half of the dough and stretch to double its original size. Place in a lightly oiled 9x13 baking pan. Drizzle oil and sprinkle spices. Use fingers to make indents into the surface of the dough. Attempt to make dimples of equal depth, and equally spaced. Bake until dough turns a light golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Remove pan from oven and immediately remove the dough from the pan. Let cool for 20 minutes before slicing.
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Adapted from a The Bread Baker's Apprentice recipe
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