Sourdough bread`

1 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
½ cup Milk
2 tablespoons Sugar
2 tablespoons Vegetable Shortening
1 cup Sourdough Starter
1 large Egg, Beaten -- at room
Temperature
1¼ teaspoon Salt
2½ cup (Approx) Unbleached Flour,
Preferably Bread Flour

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear around the edges, about 3 mins. Remove from heat, add the sugar and shortening, and stir until the shortening is melted.

Cool until lukewarm (no more than 105 F).

2. Pour into a large bowl. Add the sourdough starter, egg, and salt and mix well. Stir in 1 cup of flour to make a thick batter.

Gradually beat in enough of the flour to make a dough that is too stiff to stir.

3. On a lightly floured work surface, knead the dough, adding more flour as needed to make a supple dough that isn't sticky. Continue kneading until smooth and elastic, to to 15 mins. Form into a ball and place in a large, lightly buttered bowl. Turn once to coat the top of the dough with butter. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place (in a turned-off oven with a pilot light, for example) until doubled in volume, about 3 hrs.

4. Punch down the dough and let rise again until almost doubled, about 1½ hrs.

5. Lightly butter a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Form the dough into a loaf and place seam side down, into the prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 mins.

6. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Using a serrated knife, cut two shallow slashes in the top of the bread. Bake until the top is golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped with knuckle (remove the loaf from the pan to test, using pot holders for protection), 30 to 40 mins. Unmold onto a wire cake rack and cool completely.

NOTE: The bread can also be shaped into a round loaf, allowing the final rise to take place in the Dutch oven. Bake according to directions for baking over a grill for 50 to 60 mins. Fan the coals occasionally and protect the fire with a wind guard to ensure even heat You may also want to ignite some extra coals to have ready if the first coals die out before the bread is done. Makes 1 (9 x 5-in) loaf from Richard Bolt, a West Texas ranch cook.

Recipe By : National Cowboy Hall of Fame Chuck Wagon Cookbook From: Dan Klepach Date: 06-08-95 (159) Fido: Cooking

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