Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tuesday – Crust and Crumbs



I’ve been dethroned and couldn’t be gladder.   Calvin has learned to make bread.  Incredible, no-knead, Dutch oven, artisan bread that is chewy, soft, has a firm crust and makes the best toast.

Calvin’s Bread

½ tsp active dry yeast
1 ½ cups warm water
3 cups all purpose flour
1 ½ tsp salt
corneal for dusting

            In a large bowl dissolve the yeast in warm water.  Add the flour and salt until well blended.  The dough will be sticky.  Cover the bowl and let the dough rest several hours (8 or more).
            Lightly flour the cupboard and place the dough on it.  Sprinkle it was a little more flour and fold it over once or twice.  Cover with dishtowel and let rest 15 minutes.
            Using enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to your hands and cupboard, shape the dough into a ball.  Generously coat a clean dishtowel with cornmeal.  Put the seam side of the dough down on the towel and dust with cornmeal on top.  Cover with another towel and let rise 1 to 2 hours.  Dough is ready when it will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
            At least 20 minutes before the dough is ready, heat oven to 475 degrees.  Line your 6-8 quart heavy covered pot (Dutch oven, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) with parchment paper, and put the pot in the oven as it heats.  When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from the oven and lift off the lid.  Slide your hand under the towel and turn the dough over into the pot, seam side up.  The dough will lose its shape in the process, but that’s okay.
            Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a rack.
        

I’m lucky Calvin is such a great cook and we both love it when he does . . . as long as I’m in the kitchen with him doing damage control.  My role of chief bottle washer is forever safe.  

15 comments:

Leslie said...

yummmmmm! I love to make bread and can't wait to try out his recipe. Thanks!

A man that makes bread - he's definitely a keeper!

Cali said...

Dad,

You look so chef-ly and handsome making the bread. I can completely hear the conversation as you're cooking and mom is cleaning up behind you... getting in the way and taking the tools you're STILL using. I think you are one incredible man. I love you dad.

Cali

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...

I LOVE it when Derek cooks! Yipee for Calvin (and you)!

melanie said...

Yum! Way to go Calvin, I bet this bread is good with a pile ribs too.

Elizabeth said...

Can't wait to try it!

Deidra said...

Mmm! Sounds good to me. Calvin looks like Abe to me in these pictures.

(A girl from high school and her husband are moving to Moses Lake, and she's a little apprehensive about the move. I keep hoping that she's lucky enough to cross paths with Neighbor Jane Payne!)

Deidra said...

My husband makes that bread too!

michelle said...

Go, Calvin! I make that same bread, only with 1/4 t. of yeast and it rises overnight. Everyone loves it. Just like everyone loves a man who cooks!

Julie said...

What a man! We're still working on Steve. I see no improvement but maybe if I mentioned the dutch oven in the process he would perk up about cooking? Looks really yummy!

Grace said...

This bread is AMAZING! Definitely some of the best bread I've had!

Jill said...

I'm glad Michelle commented and confirmed that this is the same as her Artisan Bread recipe except for the yeast measurement, because that's what this sounded like to me. I love this bread!

Rachel said...

I think Uncle Calvin needs an apron! A manly one, of course.

Emma J said...

I've been hearing good things about this recipe. I really have got to try it

Deanna/Mimi said...

Yummy looking and I am sure very yummy for my tummy. Thanks for the recipe.

tina said...

I LOVE THAT BREAD! I have a friend that makes it often and I usually request it at get togethers. Neil got the recipe and has also mastered it recently. It's fabulous!!! He's always been a better baker than me anyway.