ANISE-SEED BREAD

ANISE-SEED BREAD image

Number Of Ingredients 7

3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
3 teaspoons instant yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine table salt
1 tablespoon anise seeds
3 ounces vegetable shortening
1 cup whole milk (you may need more or less depending on your location)

Steps:

. Mix together the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Set aside. 2. Add the shortening, anise-seed and milk to a small saucepan and heat gently to melt the shortening. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool to 115 degrees F. This process helps to infuse the milk mixture with the anise-seed. 3. Pour the milk-shortening into the flour and mix to form a dough. Turn the dough on to a floured work surface and knead for 12 minutes. If using a mixer, use the dough hook and mix for 10 minutes. 4. Shape dough however you like. For this bread, I braided the dough, and formed it into a circle then transferred it to the pot. 5. Cover the pot/dish and leave in a warm place for 20 minutes. If you have a gas stove that has a pilot, then that is warm enough, just place the pot/dish in the oven. 6. If you had the dough resting outside of the oven, at the end of the 20 minutes, transfer it to the cold oven and turn the oven on to 400 degrees F. Set the timer for 40 minutes. At the end of the 40 minutes, remove the cover of the pot/dish so that the top of the bread can brown nicely. Bake uncovered for 5 minutes then remove from the oven. 7. Wait for 5 minutes then carefully remove the bread and place on a wire rack to cool.