Crusty Artisan Bread

Crusty Artisan Bread

Ingredients

2 cups warm water

1 packet of yeast (about 2 teaspoon)

1 ½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon olive oil

4-5 cups flour

2 T corn meal

Instructions

1. Add yeast to warm water and allow to sit for 5 minutes

2. Sprinkle 2 tbsp corn meal onto a large baking sheet

3. Add sugar, salt and olive oil to yeast water mixture

4. Add the flour starting with four cups

5. Mix/knead by hand or in your mixer until dough comes together and no longer sticks to edges of bowl. You will most likely need to add the additional fifth cup of flour (once it is not sticking continue to knead for 3-5 minutes)

6. With floured hands divide dough into two equal pieces and form each piece into a ball

7.  Place dough balls (4-5 inches apart) on the baking sheet that has been sprinkled with corn meal (make sure each dough ball is coated generously with flour)

8. Using a serrated knife, make a tic tac toe design on the top of each ball

9. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 40-60 minutes or until dough has doubled in size

10. Preheat oven to 500 degrees

11. Uncover dough that has doubled in size and place on middle rack in your preheated oven

12. Throw 3-4 ice cubes in the bottom of the oven and close door (this is the magic step that makes the crust on the bread AMAZING!

13. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until bread is golden brown
14. Remove bread from oven and cool on rack