Anadma bread

4 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
3 cups Yellow Cornmeal
6 cups Water
12 tablespoons Unsalted Butter cut in pieces
1½ cup Molasses
2 tablespoons Salt (Plus 2 Tsp)
3 packs Active Dry Yeast
6 Eggs
10 cups (To 12) All-Purpose Flour

Directions

1. Stir the cornmeal into the water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter, molasses and salt. Let the mixture cool to lukewarm (110 to 155 F). Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture and let soften for a few mins.

2. Transfer the batter to a large mixing bowl. Stir in eggs.

3. Add 6 cups of flour gradually, stirring to make a stiff dough.

Turn out on a floured board and begin to knead; add more flour as needed to make the dough manageable. You will add 4 to 6 cups more flour, depending on humidity. Knead 10 to 12 mins, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

4. Put the dough in a large greased bowl withplenty of room for the dough to expand. (Suggest a soup kettle or other large cooking pot).

Cover with oiled plastic wrap or a a lid and let rise until it doubles, about 1½ hours.

5. Form the dough into loaves and fit into oiled bread pans, to make 4 large or 6 small loaves. (Suggested pans: 4 x 8 x 3-inch or 3 ½ x 7 ½ x 2-inch) Cover lightly with kitchen towels and let rise again until doubled, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 F.

6. Bake the loaves until they begin to brown, about 10 mins. Reduce heat to 325 and continue baking. Small loaves need about 20 additional mins; large loaves need 30 mins. Remove from pans and cool on racks.

Notes from Caroline indicate that you can use a standing heavy-duty mixer with dough hook and knead the amount on 2 or 3 batches. She says overbaking is the biggest mistake any home baker can make, because it kills the flavor.

Submitted by Caroline Craig to section on the TOPSFIELD FAIR of Topsfield, Mass. Fair dates: Early October, 10 days.

Recipe By : The County Fair Cookbook - ISBN 0-7868-6014-6 From: Dan Klepach Date: 03-30-95 (159) Fido: Cooking

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