Sour Dough Hot Bread

Starter:

2            cups lukewarm water (105*F to 115*F)

1            packet  (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast

1 1/2     cups flour 

Dough :

1 1/2      cups starter 

1            cup water 

2            tablespoons sugar

1            tablespoon salt

5 to 6    cups unsifted flour

4            tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter melted

1) For the Starter : In a medium -size  glass or ceramic bowl , whisk together water , yeast and flour . cover loosely with wax paper and set in a warm draft-free  place for 12 hours or overnight.

2) For the Dough :  Place starter in a large bowl . With a wooden spoon or in an electric mixer with the paddle attached , mix in water , sugar , salt  and 2 1/2 cups of the flour . Beat the dough at moderate speed until smooth ... about 15  seconds.

3) If using an electric mixer , remove paddle and insert dough hook . Add 3 tablespoons of the melted butter and 2 1/2 cups remaing flour , 1/2 cup at a time . Continue beating about 10 minutes , adding an extra 1/2 to 1 cup flour , if necessary , to make it smooth and elastic dough ( if mixing by hand , you will probably have to knead in the last of the flour ).

4) Shape dough into a ball , place in a well-buttered 5-quart bowl , and turn to grease all over . Cover with a cloth and let rise in a warm , draft-free place until double in bulk  ... 1 to 1 1/2 hours . Punch dough down , recover , and let rise 1 1/2 hours more .

5)Punch dough down , turn into a lightly floured worh surface , and knead lightly until smooth ... 2 to 3 minutes . Divide dough in half  and roll each into a ball . Place the balls into lightly greased 8-inch round layer cake or springform pans , cover with a cloth , let rise until double in bulk ...45 minutes to an hour . Preheat oven to  350*F.

6) Brush risen loaves with the remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter ; then with a sharp knife , make a diagonal slash  in  the top of each.

7) Bake until loaves are richly golden and sound hollow when tapped ... 45 to 50 minutes . Transfer at once to racks to cool . Makes 2 loaves , about 10 slices each.

Heart Healthy