Water Bread

As part of my EcoChallenge goal, I have not gone to the grocery store for any food (I did run out for laundry detergent yesterday...just about ran out of clothes!). While I was at the farmers market last Saturday, I did not buy any bread. I am a HUGE bread baker. There’s something about the kneading the dough, smelling the yeast and freshly baked bread from the oven that is incredibly therapeutic. Tonight I am having a bunch of friends over for a get together. Some of what I’m making require toasts. This is the bread I’m using…it has a great “crusty” crust, similar to French bread and has a simple and fresh taste as to not take away from the flavors that I will be piling on top of it.

1 ¾ cups warm water
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
2 pinches of sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons salt
2 egg whites, slightly beaten
5 cups all-purpose flour + extra for dusting

In a large bowl, pour in ¼ cup of the water. Add the yeast and sugar. Stir well and let stand until foamy (about 10-15 minutes).

Then add the rest of the water, oil, salt, and egg whites to the yeast mixture. Whisk well. Beat in the flour a little at a time until a dough forms. Turn out on a floured surface and knead well until the dough is smooth.

Lightly grease your original bowl and return your dough to the bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for about one hour.

Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead for only about one minute (if you knead too much it can become tough). Shape your dough in rolls, loafs, etc. Let rest for about 15-20 minutes (the dough will rise some).

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (make sure the oven is heated all the way before baking the bread.

Lightly dust the bread with flour and bake for about 15 minutes. The dough will sound hollow when you tap on it with the back of a spoon and be golden brown.