Best Patricias Basic Bread Dough Recipes

PATRICIA'S FOUGASSE

Steps:

• At least 40 minutes before placing the assembled fougasse in the oven, preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Punch down the prepared dough and divide it evenly into 5 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball of dough into an 8-by-5-inch rectangle. Using a pastry scraper, cut 3 or 4 parallel slashes into the bread.
• Sprinkle a baking sheet with coarse cornmeal, and carefully transfer the rectangles of dough to the baking sheet. Gently pull apart at the slashes. Cover with a clean towel, and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Assemble the fougasse: Brush lightly with olive oil, then sprinkle with preferred toppings, such as olives, herbs, oil-marinated capers, candied orange peel and granulated sugar, herbes de Provence, or aniseed. Reduce oven temperature to 450 degrees. and bake until golden and crusty, 25 to 30 minutes.

BASIC HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until bubbles form on surface. Whisk together remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture; pour into flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1-1/2 to 2 hours., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1-1/2 hours., Bake at 375° until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200°, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

PATRICIA'S WHOLE WHEAT APPLESAUCE BREAD

Steps:

• Mix applesauce, hot water, brown sugar, salt and oil in mixer bowl.
• Add wheat flour and mix long enough to incorporate ingredients. Let rest for 20 minutes.
• Soften yeast in lukewarm water. Add to wheat flour mixture and mix to incorporate.
• Add white flour, one cup at a time, mix by hand.
• Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes.
• Let dough ball rise in an oiled bowl covered with oiled plastic wrap in a warm place for about two hours.
• Punch down dough. Let rest ten minutes.
• Shape into 4 loaves (I use a food scale to get them the same size) and put into sprayed/greased loaf pans.
• Cover with oiled plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about one hour. Preheat oven to 350.Bake 30-40 minutes. Cover with foil for last ten minutes to prevent over-browning.