Peasant Bread

Step 1

Add the two cups warm water to a bowl, stir in yeast, sugar and salt. Let sit for five minutes. Add flour and stir until dough forms a ball. Cover with a dish towel or cloth and place in a warm place for 1 hour.

Step 2

Next remove cloth, punch down and divide the dough into two pieces. I use a knife to cut in half and flour my hands to handle the dough.

Step 3

Place each piece in a 1 quart bowl that has been well greased with butter or can use 1 large bowl and not cut in half. You could use bread pans or just shape into loaves and put on baking sheet. You do not have to knead this dough.

Step 4

Cover and let rise a second time for 45 minutes.

Step 5

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and bake for 15 minutes.

Step 6

Turn heat down to 375 and bake for 15 more minutes.

Step 7

I do brush the tops of the bread with melted butter before baking.

Step 8

Let bread cool for about 15 minutes before removing from pans.

Step 9

Makes 2 small loaves or 1 large.