easiest bread in the world

I pinned this bread awhile ago and then I decided to take the plunge and make it. Making my own bread was on my 23 before 24 list. Now I make and eat it all the time. It is excellent on its own, with butter and honey, used for sandwiches, basically everything.  If you make the dough today you can eat it for Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Recipe c/o Simply So Good

Ingredients:

3 cups of flour

1 3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon yeast

1 1/2 cups of water 

In a large mixing bowl add 3 cups white unbleached flour. (I have used bleached and unbleached-- both worth great)

To the flour add 1 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon yeast.

Whisk the flour, salt and yeast together.

Add 1 1/2 cups water.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it set for 12 - 18 hours on the counter top.  DO NOT REFRIGERATE.  This is not optional.  It takes that much time to proof the dough.  The reason why you need a large bowl, is because the dough will start to rise.

 Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  As soon as it has heated to 450 degrees place your pot with the lid in the oven and pre-heat the pot for 30 minutes. (I bought this pot from Target and it works amazingly well. It was so cheap compared to the fancy Le Creuset ones.)

Right after you put the pan in the oven to preheat, dump the dough out onto a HEAVILY floured surface. After you dump the dough on to a floured surface shape it into a round ball.   This will rest for 30 minutes while the pan is heating.After you shape the dough cover it with the plastic wrap that was over the bowl.

Remove the pot from the oven and carefully pick up the ball of dough and drop it into the pot.  You may want to flour your hands, because the dough is going to stick like crazy.  Remember the pan is now 450 degrees hot!  Be careful.  Put the lid on the pot and return it to the oven for 30 minutes.

Remove the lid from the pot and continue to bake for another 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and carefully remove bread from the pot.  Remember the pot is HOT. Place the bread on a cooling rack until completely cooled.

And that is it! Now you have some glorious wonderful homemade bread. Let me know if you try it!