At Last! Bread!

I've kneaded bread in the traditional way. I don't care to ever do it again. I don't have the arm muscles of a cross-channel swimmer. I am a confirmed bread machine bread baker. I love my Zojurushi. But still, I have lusted after that perfect artisan bread that usually costs a small fortune at fancy bakeries, if you can find it at all, which, in San Luis Obispo County, you cannot. It's that crunchy-crusted round full of holes that you rip apart and dunk in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It's the bread of my dreams.

So, months ago I purchased Jim Lahey's book, "My Bread." It's a no-knead, no-work (no kidding) method that yields that bread of my dreams: the Perfect Bread. I've also been prompted, by Jim and my other cooking experiments, to invest in 3 covered cast iron pots, all of which get used a lot these days. Friday I finally got my courage up (my cooking courage has grown immeasurably in the intervening months) and started a loaf of the basic bread.

The key to Jim's method is a very slow rise using little yeast. Twelve-18 hours normally. Since it's been a bit nippy here, I let my first rise go nearly 24 hours, which was just fine. The second rise was increased from 2 hours to about 4-5. My point is that if you don't get around to whatever the next step is right away, it's not a big deal. After 2 rises, and NO KNEADING between, you just dump the dough into a hot pot and bake.

Out of the oven came . . . ta-da . . . The Perfect Bread. OMG.

Since it takes all of 10 minutes, even for pokey me, to get a batch going, I've already started a rye loaf. Even my picky, picky, picky, highly critical husband says this is the bread of his dreams. And, believe me, he is impossible to please.

So, get the book. Read it. And make bread. I know, I know. The recipe is on the internet. However, as is the case in many things, the information on the internet isn't necessary everything you need to know to get The Perfect Bread. Believe me on this one. Plus, Jim's book tells you all about both the science and the art of The Perfect Bread. And, he gives you lots and lots and lots and lots of other ideas and recipe connected with the dough. Pizza! Focaccia! The sandwiches of your dreams! And what to do with any leftovers that get stale, as if that will ever happen.