Djs True Salt Rising Bread Recipes

DJ'S "TRUE" SALT RISING BREAD

Steps:

• Pour milk onto dry ingredients and stir.
• Keep warm overnight until foamy. I place it in a yogurt maker which will maintain a constant temperature. You must get the foamy and smelly "rotten cheese" smell or it will not work! This is called a "raisin".
• After "raisin" has foamed and has the smell, in a medium sized bowl, add 2 cups of warm water to the mixture. Then add enough flour, (about 1 1/2 cups) to make a thin pancake like batter. Stir and let rise again until it becomes foamy. This will usually take from 2 to 3 hours.
• Next, add one cup of warm water for each loaf of bread that you want to make. ( e.g., 3 cups of warm water will make 3 loaves of bread). To this add about 10 cups of flour.
• Knead well, about 8 to 10 minutes. Then form into loaves and put into well greased loaf pans. Grease tops of loaves. Let rise again, until double, in a warm place. ( I place mine in the oven with the oven light on.) This will take from 2 to 6 hours.
• Bake at 300 deg. for 30 to 45 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
• Let cool. Tastes excellent toasted. Freezes Well! Enjoy!
• NOTE: You can make up to 6 loaves with this Starter. I chose to make 3.

SALT RISING BREAD II

Steps:

• Add the salt, sugar, corn meal, and butter to the milk.
• Place this in
• a glass fruit jar or a heavy crockery pitcher and surround it with water at about 120 F.
• Allow it to stand 6 to 7 hours or until it starts to ferment. If it has "worked" enough, the gas can be heard as it escapes.
• This leaven contains enough liquid for 1 loaf.
• If more loaves are wanted, add 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 Tablespoon sugar, and 1 Tablespoon butter for each additional loaf.
• Make a soft sponge by adding 1 cup flour to each loaf to be made. Beat well.
• Put the sponge to rise again at 120 F.
• When it is very light, add more flour (2 cups flour for each loaf) gradually so tha t the dough can be kneaded and not stick to hands.
• Knead 10 to 15 minutes.
• Put in a greased pan.
• Let rise until 2-1/2 times its original size. Bake in hot oven 15 minutes and then a moderate one for 45 more. Notice that there is no yeast in this bread except the wild yeast that comes from the air.
• While it is baking there is a disagreeable odour that disappears when the bread is baked.
• It always has a peculiar flavour, disliked by some and prized by others.
• It is never so light as bread made with yeast. A loaf made with 1 cup liquid will not rise to the top of a standard-sized bread pan.
• Do not try to keep this fine-grained white bread for long as it dries out.

SALT RISING BREAD

Steps:

• Preparation: the evening before, in a saucepan scald the milk. In a small bowl pour the scalding hot (but not boiling) milk over the cornmeal and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir together and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place in a warm spot (90°-100°) where it will remain for 8 to 10 hours. A bubbly foam will develop over the surface of the cornmeal and it will smell sweet and fermented.
• By Hand: In a large mixing or mixer bowl (warmed under hot water tap), pour the hot water over the 1/2 teaspoon sugar, salt, and baking soda. Stir this briefly with a large spoon. Gradually add 1-1/2 cups flour to make a thick batter. Stir until smooth - about 50 strokes. The batter should be lukewarm to the touch. Not hot. Stir in the fermented cornmeal mixture.
• First Rising: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap; return to the warm place until the batter has bubbled and foamed to more than double its volume, about 2 hours. When you turn back the plastic wrap the aroma will be quite strong.
• By Hand or Mixer: With the wooden spoon or flat beater mix in the shortening. Gradually add flour, 1/4 cup at a time, first with the spoon and then by hand. Work it well between the fingers, adding more flour, if necessary, until the dough has lost its wetness and a rough mass has formed. If using a mixer, when the dough becomes heavy remove the flat beater and replace it with the dough hook. Continue adding flour until a rough mass forms under the hook.
• Kneading: Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and begin the kneading process. This dough will feel alive under your palms, elastic and soft. The dough under the dough hook will form a soft ball around the revolving arm. Add sprinkles of flour if the dough sticks to the sides of the bowl. Knead for 10 minutes.
• By Processor: the fist 2 steps in the preparation of the dough will be done in 2 bowls, as above. Processing will come later.
• Attach the steel blade. After the batter has risen for the second time and the shortening has been added, pour the mixture into the processor work bowl. With the machine running, add flour, 1/4 cup at a time, to form a rough mass that whirls with the blade and cleans the sides of the bowl. If flour remains along the bottom edge of the bowl, scrape it free with a spatula.
• Kneading: With the processor running, knead for 60 seconds.
• Shaping: Divide the dough in half. Roll each piece into a rectangle, fold in half, pinch the seam closed, and shape the dough into a loaf. Place in the pans, seam to the bottom. The dough usually fills only half of the pan. Brush the tops lightly with oil or melted butter.
• Second Rising: Cover with wax paper and allow to rise until the dough has doubled, about 50 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375° about 20 minutes before baking.
• Baking: Place the pans in the oven. When the loaves are nicely browned and tapping the bottom crust yields a hard and hollow sound, about 45 minute, they are done. (If using a convection oven, reduce heat 50°.).
• Final Step: Remove the bread from the oven and turn out immediately onto a metal cooling rack.
• Toasting enhances the flavor of salt-rising bread. It may be kept frozen for several months at 0°.
• recipe courtesy of Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads.