Rosemary olive oil bread is a fragrant treat
Home-baked bread can be counted as one of the simple pleasures in life. It takes a little bit of time to bake a loaf of bread but it is certainly worth it. Just the aroma of baking bread filling up your home will be payoff enough. Serve this bread warm or at room temperature along side a soup or stew, or slather with butter to enjoy it as a savory snack all on its own.
Instructions
1. Put one cup of warm water in the small bowl. Insert the candy thermometer into the water. The water should be between 105 degrees and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Add the yeast to the water when the water temperature is between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Let the yeast sit in the water for about five minutes.
3. Put the flour and salt in the large bowl. Add the yeast, sugar, olive oil and rosemary. Add water in small batches. You want the ingredients to mix but you don't want the dough to be watery. Combine the ingredients will your hands.
4. Take the dough out of the bowl and knead it for 10 to 15 minutes, until it is barely sticking to the counter. You may have to put a small amount of flower or cornmeal onto the counter to prevent dough from sticking.
5. Make a ball by tucking the ends of the dough underneath and place it back in the large bowl with the rounded end facing up. Cover with a clean, damp dish towel and let the dough sit for one hour.
6. Return the dough to the counter and flatten it so that it is two inches high. Using a dough cutter, cut the dough into four equal pieces. Make each piece into a ball by tucking the ends under. Place the four balls on the counter and cover with a damp dish towel.
7. Spray two cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
8. Flatten each loaf so that it is one inch thick. Fold one corner of each loaf over so that it looks like a smile. Fold each loaf again so that the dough is in thirds.
9. Put the loaves on the cookie sheets and cover with a damp dish towel and let the loaves rise again for 40 minutes.
10. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill a broiler pan about halfway with water and place it on the lowest rack.
11. Make slashes in the top of each loaf with the serrated knife. Mix the egg and a little bit of water in a small bowl and brush each loaf with the egg wash.
12. Place a cookie sheet with loaves into oven and bake one cookie sheet at a time until the loaves are brown.
13. Remove the loaves from the oven and place upside down on the cooling racks to allow the bottoms to dry.
Tags: each loaf, damp dish, damp dish towel, degrees Fahrenheit, dish towel, water small, ball tucking