How to Bake Bread with a Pan of Water
- 1). Empty the package of yeast into a bowl, along with the sugar. Add ½ cup warm water and stir to dissolve the yeast. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and wait 10 minutes for the yeast to activate.
- 2). Put the salt, oil and ¾ cup of water in the bowl of yeast. Stir with a whisk or spoon until all the ingredients are incorporated. An electric hand mixer also works well for mixing the wet ingredients.
- 3). Add the flour, one cup at a time, and stir until you have a soft ball of dough. Lightly flour a clean, hard surface and place the dough on it.
- 4). Knead the dough until smooth, for about 5 or 7 minutes. Coat a bowl with oil and place the kneaded dough in it, turning it over once to coat both sides with oil. Cover and set in a warm, draft-free place until the dough rises to double its size, usually between 1 and 2 hours.
- 5). Preheat the oven to 370 degrees F, and place a pie pan on the bottom rack. Coat the bottom and sides of a loaf pan with vegetable oil.
- 6). Push the risen dough down with your hands. Shape the dough into a log, and place in the loaf pan.
- 7). Pour 1 cup of water into the pie pan. Put the bread in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top of the bread is golden brown. Remove the bread from the loaf pan, and cool for 5 minutes before slicing.
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