Dutch Oven Bread

Ingredients

• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 ½ cups water
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp yeast
• pinch of sugar

Directions

1. Prime the yeast by adding it to the water with a pinch of sugar. Water should be between 100° and 110°. Mix and let rest for 10 minutes.
2. Add flour and salt to stand mixer and mix with dough hook.
3. Add water and yeast to flour and mix on a medium speed until dough becomes smooth and elastic and no longer clings to the sides of the bowl. This may take 10 minutes.
4. Add small bits of water or flour if dough is too dry or wet.
5. Remove dough from bowl, spray with cooking spray, add back to bowl and cover with cling wrap. Let dough rise until roughly doubled in size.
6. Lightly flour a countertop and shape the dough into a boule by moving the dough in circular motions.
7. Lightly flour some parchment papper, place the dough on top and cover with greased cling wrap. Let rise about an hour.
8. While dough rises, place dutch oven, covered, into oven. Turn oven on to 450° and let the dutch oven get very hot.
9. Using a lame or very sharp knife, cut an X or other lines on top of boule.
10. Carefully remove dutch oven, remove lid and carefully lift dough and parchment paper and place inside the dutch oven.
11. Bake for 10 minutes.
12. Reduce temperature to 375° and bake for 20 minutes.
13. Remove lid and bake until loaf is golden or darker, probably 25-30 minutes.
14. Place loaf on rack and let cool before eating.