The Zero Garbage Challenge

You asked for it, and here it is… the easiest bread recipe (and delicious too!)

Basic Bread Recipe (one loaf):

1. Mix 3 cups bread flour, 1/4 teaspoon yeast and 1 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Add 1 5/8 cup water, stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic.  Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at about 70 degrees.
2. Dough is ready when surface is dotted with bubbles. Turn dough onto floured work surface and fold once or twice.  Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, gently and quickly shape into a ball.  Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or corn meal.  Put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour.  Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours.
3. At least 30 minutes before dough is ready, heat oven to 450.  Put 6 - 8 quart covered pot (cast iron, enamel, or ceramic) in oven as it heats.  When dough is ready, it will be more than double in size and will not spring back when poked with a finger.  Slide hand under towel and turn dough over into the hot pot, seam side up.  Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake for 15-30 minutes, until loaf is browned.  Cool on a rack.

Options:

- If you don’t have a covered pot, use a bread pan and lower oven temp to 400
- To make a whole wheat loaf, use 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 bread flour
- To make an olive loaf, add 1/2 cup chopped olives when adding water
- To make a health nut loaf, add to flour mix:

• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup millet
• 1/4 cup flaxseeds
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds

Thanks to everyone who attended the zero garbage workshop on Sunday.  It was such a pleasure to mingle with so many like-minded and supportive people!