Best And Easiest Home-baked Bread

For the starter, place warm water in a glass or stainless steel bowl
and whisk in yeast. Stir in flour and cover with plastic wrap. Set
aside to rise at room temperature until doubled and bubbly from 2 to
8 hours, depending on room temperature.

For the sponge, place warm water in a glass or stainless steel bowl
and whisk in yeast. Whisk in starter, stir in flour smoothly, and
cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise until about triple in volume,
about 4 to 8 hours (I like to do this late at night and allow it to
rise all night). Stir sponge to deflate and stir in smaller amount of
flour and salt. Knead dough by hand to form a smooth, elastic and
slightly sticky dough, about 5 minutes, incorporating the remaining
flour a tablespoon at a time if the dough is too soft.

To mix the dough in the food processor, place sponge, smaller amount
of flour and salt in work bowl fitted with metal blade. Pulse
repeatedly until dough forms a ball (if dough will not form ball, add
remaining flour a tablespoon at a time, and pulse until dough forms
ball. Let dough rest 5 minutes, then let machine run continuously for
20 seconds.

To mix dough in heavy-duty mixer, place sponge, smaller amount of
flour and salt in bowl of mixer fitted with dough hook. Mix on low
speed to form a smooth, elastic and slightly sticky dough, about 5
minutes, incorporating the remaining flour a tablespoon at a time if
the dough is too soft.

Oil a bowl and turn dough into it. Turn dough over so that top is
oiled and cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Allow dough to rise
until double. Line a round basket or 2-quart bowl with a napkin or
tea towel and flour the cloth generously. Remove dough from bowl,
press it to deflate, and shape it into a sphere by tucking bottom
under and in toward center all the way around. Invert the dough into
the cloth-lined basket or bowl so tucked-under edges are on top.
Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled, about an
hour.

When the loaf is almost risen, preheat oven to 500 degrees and set a
rack at the middle level. Place a heavy cookie sheet or jelly roll
pan or a baking stone on the rack. Sprinkle the top of the loaf with
cornmeal and invert it onto a piece of cardboard or a peel. Holding a
razor blade at a 30-degree angle to the loaf, quickly slash a cross
in the top. Slide the loaf off the peel onto the pan and lower oven
temperature to 450 degrees. Bake the loaf for about 45 minutes, or
until it reaches an internal temperature of 210 degrees. Cool the
loaf on a rack and do not cut it until it is completely cooled.

Variations:

PART WHOLE WHEAT BREAD: Make the starter with whole wheat flour and
the sponge and dough with white flour. Or, if you make the starter
with white flour, substitute 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1 1/2 cups
white flour in the sponge; and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1 to 1
1/4 cups white flour in the dough.

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