Heidi's Recipe

Ciabatta Bread

Category: Loaf

3 c flour
1 pack dry active yeast
1 t salt
1/8 c cornmeal (optional)
1 beaten egg (optional)
4 T olive oil

Sift flour into a bowl. Mix in salt . Create a large well.
Pour yeast into well; pour 1c lukewarm water over yeast.
Sprinkle 1T flour over top.
Wait 10 min for bubbles to appear in the yeast.
Once bubbles appear, start to mix (hands work best, use a mixer) to form dough.
Gradually incorporate flour.
Doing it all at once will be too difficult.
Finish "pre-kneading" stage with a round, firm ball.
If it's too sticky, add a little more flour.
Knead it then turn it one quarter. Keep kneading 5-10 min until non-sticky.
Place in a lightly floured bowl, cover with a damp dish cloth.
Let it rise 1 hr until doubled.
Flour surface; lightly oil pan and sprinkling with cornmeal or flour).
Punch it down once, hard, with your palms. Reshape into a loaf.
Put loaf on baking pan.
Cover with dish towel; let rise 1 hr until doubled.
Form a loaf 1" high. Sprinkle flour on top.

Bake 425F 30 min.