[MR] Raiders Bread Recipe

[Halima al-Shafi'i of Raven's Cove]

Since so many people have asked me for the bread recipe that was served
at Raiders last weekend, I thought I'd post it here and most everybody
who wanted it should see it.

3 cups warm water
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup dry milk powder
2 packets or 2 tablespoons dry yeast
4 cups bread flour

Beat together and let sit until it rises.  Stir down and add:

2 tablespoons oil (I used olive)
1 tablespoon salt (I used Atlantic sea salt)
5 cups or so of freshly ground wheat flour (I used spelt).

Knead together until dough is just slightly sticky (I use a KitchenAid
stand mixer).  Too much flour will make the dough tough and dry.  Form
into 3 round loaves and place on greased baking sheet to rise (I placed
the greased sheets in the freezer immediately after forming the loaves,
then stored frozen loaves in ziploc bags).  Let rise until doubled, and
bake at 375F for about 20-25 minutes or until nicely golden brown.  If
cooking from frozen, remove frozen loaves from freezer and place on
greased sheets.  Let thaw and rise until doubled.  Will take 5 hours or
so.  Then bake as above.  This was the only way I could get 3 dozen
loaves of bread done ahead of time with limited freezer space, and
without it going stale <g>.  It also made it much easier to transport to
the site as frozen dough which was then baked on site.  This also bakes
nicely in bread pans, which is how I normally make it.  I bake in pyrex
loaf pans for 26-28 minutes.

In service,
Halima al-Shafi'i
Stronghold of Raven's Cove