Fabulous Homespun Christmas Recipies

At our Terrific Tuesday meeting we enjoyed Artisan Bread and Cheesy Garlic Bread.  Artisan bread is very native and basic.  It was fun to try something new!

Basic Bread Recipe
10 cups white unbleached flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
3 rounded tablespoons instant yeast
3 Tablespoons liquid lecithin
4 cups hot tap water

Put water, sugar, salt & yeast in mixer, add 5 cups flour, mix slightly, add lecithin and remaining flour.  Mix for 1 minute and check consistency.  If dough is too dry, add more water.  If dough is too moist  add more flour.  Mix for 5 more minutes.  (Do not add water or flour to the dough after it has finished mixing.)  Spray spot on counter and baking pans with cooking spray.  Shape loaves and cover with a dish towel.  Let raise 25 minutes.  Bake at 350 degrees for 23-25 minutes.  This recipe makes four loaves of  bread.

Notes;  with the lecithin (we have it at the health food store here in Ellensburg), do not measure it, just pour 3 blobs the size of a quarter into the ingredients in the mixer.

This bread recipe can be cut in half so it can be mixed in a Kitchen Aide style mixer.

For whole wheat bread, use the same recipe but add one cup of applesauce as part of the hot water.  Mix for 10 to 15 minutes.


For Cheesy Garlic Bread I put the ingredients in a small sauce pan to simmer while I am mixing my bread;
Filling
1/2 cup butter
2 Tablespoons minced garlic (in the jar)
2 Tablespoons parsley (dried)
1 teaspoon Rosemary
Pour and spread onto rolled out dough and sprinkle with about 2 cups of shredded cheese before rolling.

Divide dough into 4 equal parts.  2 parts can be made into bread loaves or rolls and the remaining 2 parts I make cheesy bread.  You can roll it like cinnamon rolls, braid it by laying the entire roll onto the baking sheet then cutting carefully in half and chris-crossing the two pieces. Be sure to pinch bread together at seams.

For the Artisan Bread I have attached a link to the blog that I used.
http://theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2010/2/26/amazing-artisan-bread-for-40-cents-a-loaf-no-kneading-no-fus.html?currentPage=5#comments
This is a very good basic recipe.