Homemade Rosemary Garlic Bread

Have you ever made homemade bread? This was my second attempt and it was so worth the effort! Given the amount of time some of us spend in the house these days, we can try a few more laborious cooking projects. This recipe is actually very easy, has only two "rising" periods and no kneading! Your house smells delicious as they come out of the oven and the recipe makes two big loaves- one for your family and one to give away!

Rosemary Garlic Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups warm tap water, about 110 degrees (I used an instant read meat thermometer)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 1/2 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
• 2 3/4 – 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (I used spelt flour)
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup fresh rosemary, chopped (I used less as my backyard plant was not very full!)
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup flour for dusting the loaves
• Cornmeal for the pans
• 2 small cookie sheets or a large (at least 11×17-inch) jelly roll pan

Instructions

1. To make the dough, in a small bowl or glass measuring cup place water and sprinkle yeast on surface, allowing it to stand for three minutes before whisking. After dissolved, whisk in the olive oil. To mix dough in a full-sized food processor, place 2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour and 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, garlic, rosemary, and salt in bowl of the food processor fitted with a dough blade.
2. Add water, oil, and yeast mixture and process to form a smooth, elastic and slightly sticky dough, about 45 seconds. Incorporate the remaining 1/4 cup all-purpose flour a tablespoon at time if the dough is too soft.
3. Place dough in an oiled bowl and turn dough over so top is oiled. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow dough to rise at room temperature until doubled.
4. To shape loaves, scrape risen dough onto a lightly floured surface and press it to deflate it. Divide dough in half and shape one piece at a time. Press dough into a square, then roll it up tightly. Rotate cylinder of dough 90 degrees and roll up again from short end. Arrange dough seam side down, cover with plastic or a towel and let it rest of 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining piece of dough.
5. Dust pan with cornmeal. Roll each piece of dough under palms of your hands to elongate it. Work from middle of loaf outward, pointing the ends slightly. Place loaves seam side down on cookie sheets and dust each loaf heavily with flour, using about 1/4 cup in all. Cover with plastic or a towel and allow to rise until doubled.
6. About 30 minutes before you intend to bake the loaves, preheat oven to 500 degrees F and set racks at the middle and lowest levels. Set a pan on the lowest rack to absorb some of the excess bottom heat and keep the bottom of the loaves from burning.
7. Holding a razor blade or the point of a very sharp knife at a 30-degree angle to the top of each loaf, make 3 to 4 diagonal slashes in each loaf. Immediately place loaves in oven and lower temperature 450 degrees F. After loaves have baked for 20 minutes and are completely risen, lower temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking about 20 to 30 minutes longer, until bread reaches an internal temperature of about 210-220 degrees F. Remove loaves from oven and cool on a rack. Enjoy!

Fresh from the oven ready to cool

Perfect to serve with soup!