KING ARTHUR SOUR DOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• Sponge:.
• I medium mixing bowl mix starter and flour together.
• Mix in water.
• Stir for several minutes to activte gluten.
• Cover and set aside in warm place for 18-20 hours.
• When ready the sponge should have expanded by about 1/3 or more and develloped bubbles and a pleasing aroma.
• You may do this step up to 7 days ahead, then refrigerate until redy to use the sponge.
• Dough:.
• Add flour to all of sponge along with the waater, salt and yeast.
• Stir to form a shaggy mass.
• Let the mixture sit for 20-30 minutes (This resting eriod allows the flour to absorb the water and will make kneading easier and also prevent the need to add to much flour.
• Knead about 8-10 minutes by hand or 6-8 miutes in an electric mixer, it will feel firm, slightly sticky, and elastic.
• Plce dough in greased bowl, turning to cover all sides, cover bowl and set in warm place
• After an hour ad again at the 2 hour make, ently deflate and fold over few times.
• In 2-3 hours the dough should have almost doubled.
• Shaping:.
• Turn dough out onto lightly greased owrk surface. Divide dough in half, and form ech half into a roud. Let dough rest for 20 minutes covered then form the pieces into shapes you prefer.
• Place loaves seam-side up and cover. Let loaves rise for 2 more hours; dough should have almost doubled.
• Baking:.
• Preheat oven to 475F,
• Trun loaves out onto floured aker's peel or stone.
• Slash loaves several times
• Just before placing in oven spritz several times with water.
• Put into oven, sprit with water after 30 seconds, and again at 1 minute and 2 minutes.
• Turn oven temp down to 450F and bake for 18-25 minutes. Be sure bread is baked through, the crust well browned and the bread should feel firm and sound hollow whe tapped, it's internal temperature should read 195.