Crusty bread recipe.................yes you can :-)

Ok, I'm a day late with the recipe, but here's what I've been doing.....................

The projects never end. My hands are killing me today (in fact typing isn't even easy), and I've got the last row to do. My dear hubby has to cut those tricky ones for me - I do cut the straight cuts, but I can't cut in the middle of the tile around things - that's what hubby is for!!

Anyway, here's the bread....NOW- before you ignore the recipe because you "just can't do bread", I haven't had anyone not be able to make this right, I was even nervous and I bake a ton of bread (not bread that weigns a ton!), but my friend Marla gave me the recipe and brought me a sample and I was hooked. My friend Kim has made it several times after being very apprehensive, and her family is loving it!

ARTISAN CRUSTY BREAD

1 5/8 c. warm water (just make it the same temp. as your wrist)
1 tsp yeast
1 1/4 tsp salt
3 c. flour

In large bowl, stir together water yeast and salt, then add flour. Stir until ingredients are mixed. Place lid on bowl and let rise 6-24 hours (it doesn't raise to be huge). 1-2 hours before baking, scrape dough out onto floured surface (it will be very sticky) and cover with flour and shape into ball. Let sit on counter 1-2 hours.

Place glass casserole dish with lid in oven and heat to 450 degrees. The key is in heating up the dish before you put the dough in it. When oven reaches temp, take the dish out and spray w/oil and drop dough into dish, you will hear it sizzle. Put lid on dish and bake 30 min. with lid on, then remove lid and bake another 15 min. The hotter you the bread the crustier it is. It is best if you can wait at least 30 min.-1 hr. It is even better if you can have it done 1-2 hours before - then the crust isn't so hard.

This is great bread for dipping in oil & balsamic vinegar!! It also makes great toast and grilled cheese!! Or just spray with oil and a little garlic and broil - nummy!

Ok girls - let me know if you try it - you'll be addicted and your family will think you are a "bread goddess"!

Have a great weekend! We're doing a staycation this weekend - I'll blog about it next week.
More Simply Scrappin' card samples to come.............................