Salt-rising bread starter:
1 1/2 c Hot water
1 tb Sugar
1/2 ts Salt
1/2 c Warm water
– (100 to 115 degrees)
1/4 ts Baking soda
1/2 c Lukewarm whole milk
– (90 to 110 degrees)
2 tb Butter, melted
1 ts Salt
5 1/2 c Flour
Recipe by: ESSENCE OF EMERIL SHOW #EE2134 Make starter: In a glass
bowl mix together all ingredients for starter. Cover with a plate and
place in a barely warm oven for 12 hours, or until top is covered
with 1/2 to 1-inch of foam (a gas oven with pilot light is warm
enough or heat electric oven to 250 degrees for 20 minutes; turn off
before placing bowl in oven.) Keep warm.
Make bread: Strain liquid from salt starter through a sieve set over a
large mixing bowl. Pour 1/2 cup warm water over potato, pressing to
extract as much liquid as possible; discard potato. Stir baking soda,
milk, butter and salt into potato liquid. Add 2 cups of flour and
beat until very smooth. Add 2 1/2 cups more flour, stirring until
dough comes together. Sprinkle remaining flour over work surface,
turn out dough and knead for 10 to 12 minutes, until dough is smooth.
Divide in two and form into loaves. Place loaves in 2 well-buttered
loaf pans, cover and set aside in a warm place to double, 4 to 5
hours. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until
bottom of loaves sound hollow when tapped. Turn loaves out of pans
and cool completely on racks before slicing.
Yield: 2 loaves
Yields
2 Loaves