MINI BREAD LOAVES

Steps:

• Starter.
• Combine water and yeast in a large bowl and mix well.
• Add ¾ cup flour and whisk 100 times.
• Cover and let set one hour.
• Dough.
• Add an additional tsp of dry yeast, 6 cups of (room temp.) water, 4 cups of flour and kosher salt to starter mix.
• Whisk 50 times and let stand 2 minutes.
• Using a large spoon mix in 2 cups of flour until well incorporated.
• Add 3 cups of flour and mix until well incorporated.
• Add another 3 cups of flour and mix until well incorporated.
• Let dough rest 5 minutes.
• Cover working surface with generous amount of flour (about a cup).
• Turn soft wet dough onto surface and sprinkle with flour.
• Dip your hands in flour and knead the dough.
• (Push it down and forward with the heel of one hand. Then pull dough back from the top and fold dough over with the other.).
• Gradually add the last cup of flour as you knead for about 5 minutes.
• Shape dough into a ball and return to large bowl that has been lightly coated with 1 ½ tsp olive oil.
• Brush top with ½ tsp olive oil.
• Cover and let rise until doubled (approx an hour).
• Deflate the dough, turn out unto a floured surface and knead for about a minute.
• Separate dough in half.
• Separate each half in half.
• Divide these pieces into fourths.
• (You should have 16 pieces. And sometimes I get 18 pieces-- lol).
• Shape each piece into a tight ball and place on a greased baking sheet (up to 6 to a sheet).
• Let rise for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450F and place oven racks in the center of the oven.
• Place a pan of water under the racks where the bread will bake.
• Place loaves in hot oven for ten minutes.
• *Spray/sprinkle loaves with water.
• Reduce heat to 400F and continue baking for 10-12 minutes.
• Remove from oven.
• Paint w/ butter or oil for a softer crust (optional).
• *For crustier loaves keep the 450F bake time to 20 minutes and omit 400F bake & water spritz.