Attack of the Hungry Monster: The Easiest Bread

Fresh, crusty bread is always welcome in my house. Well, unless I'm cutting carbs. Then, keep it away! Buuuutt, I needed bread on this day.

I have no bread maker or fancy ingredients. Good thing those things are not required here. In fact, you don't really need a stand mixer or food processor. You can just mix the dough with your hands if you like and knead it until it is elastic-y.
That's a word.

In retrospect, I would have brushed this loaf with melted butter and cracked some sea salt on it before I popped it in the oven. Don't be like me.

The Easiset Bread

makes 1 loaf

2-1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 packet yeast

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup warm water

Olive oil, for greasing

*Optional--melted butter & sea salt for topping

In the bowl of your stand mixer (or food processor, in my case) pour warm water {110-115 degrees} and sprinkle in one packet of rapid rise yeast. Let the yeast bloom for 5 minutes. Grease a large bowl with olive oil.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl measure and mix the flour with the kosher salt.

Stir the flour into the yeast-water until just combined. Using a dough hook, mix until the dough is smooth and tacky. Or just hit the dough button on the food processor until it forms a ball.

Place the dough ball in the oiled bowl. Place a damp towel (or loose plastic wrap) over top and place the bowl in a warm area to rise for about an hour.

Punch the dough and form a log of dough on a baking sheet. *Brush with melted butter and cracked sea salt and slide into an cool, un-preheated oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (while the loaf is in the oven) and set the timer for 30-35 minutes. The loaf will rise a bit more while the oven is preheating.

Adapted from Simply Scratch

Brie happened.