Rustic Bread

Created by Christopher Rivera

Ingredients:

• 1.25 cup -

  Water

• 2 tsp -

  Salt

• 1 pgk -

  Active Dry Yeast

• 3 cup -

  Bread Flour

Steps:

1. Step 1

   In a large bowl, combine lukewarm water, salt, and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it starts bubbling.

2. Step 2

   Add the flour and mix using a large spoon or spatula until all the flour is incorporated.

3. Step 3

   Perform four or five rounds of "stretches and folds". Take one side of the dough, stretch, and fold, bringing the dough to the opposite side of the bowl. Rotate the bowl one quarter and repeat another three times. Do this every hour.

4. Step 4

   Preheat your oven to 450°F with your empty Dutch oven in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Dust the bottom with flour.

5. Step 5

   Gently pick up the dough and drop it into the pot. Using a pair of scissors, make one snip at the top.

6. Step 6

   Bake with the lid on at 450°F for 30 to 35 minutes.

7. Step 7

   Then remove the lid, drop the oven temperature to 400°F, and make for another 10 minutes or longer, or until you’ve achieved the color of crust you want.