Country Bread with Molasses

This country bread is so easy to make and has a light, springy texture. Make one for dinner and freeze one for later. The molasses gives it a light golden colour, not impacting the flavour of the bread very much.

Ingredients:

4 cups flour

2 tsps salt

2 cups lukewarm water

2 tsps molasses

2 tsps active dry yeast

about 2 tbsps butter for buttering the bowls

To get just the right temperature water for the yeast place 2 tsps molasses in a 2 cup measuring cup. Then add 1/2 cup boiling water and mix well. Add 1 1/2 cups cold water, sprinkle the yeast on top and give it a very gentle stir. Leave it for about 15 minutes or until the yeast becomes active and it looks like a measuring cup full of Guinness beer!

Pour into a large mixer bowl, add the flour and salt and mix until well combined. Turn the dough into a large oiled bowl, cover with a damp dish towel. Turn the oven on (any temperature) for 1 minute, then turn it OFF. Now place your bowl with the dough in the oven for 3-4 hours. Once it has risen, gently punch down. Take two oven safe bowls, I used  Pyrex 1.5L and 2.5L bowls, and butter them well. Separate the dough into two, fold under itself to form a ball and place each in a buttered bowl.

Cover and let rise on the counter an additional 45 minutes. Once the dough has risen a second time bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then turn down the temperature to 375°F for another 15 minutes. Run a thin knife or spatula around if the bread needs loosening then turn out onto a rack to cool.

If you want you can brush the tops while warm with butter, then cool about 45 minutes before slicing.

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