Recipe: Country Pistolettes (with starter)

COUNTRY PISTOLETTES

FOR THE STARTER:
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup hot water (120 to 130 degrees F)
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup bread flour or all-purpose flour (approximately)
1 cup whole wheat flour
FOR THE BREAD:
2 cups hot water (120 to 130 degrees)
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 to 3 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour (approximately)

TO MAKE THE STARTER:
In a large mixing bowl dissolve the honey in the hot water and add the yeast. Add a half-cup each white and whole-wheat flour to make a thick batter. Add the balance of the flours to make a shaggy mass that can be worked with the hands. Knead for three minutes. Toss in liberal sprinkles of flour if the dough is slack or sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for at least four hours. (Left overnight it will gather even more flavor and strength.)

TO MAKE THE DOUGH:
Pour the hot water over the starter. Stir with a large wooden spoon or rubber scraper, or the flat beater of a mixer, to break up the dough. Add the salt.

Place two cups each of whole-wheat and white flour at the side of the mixing bowl, and add equal parts of each, one-half cup at a time, first stirring with a spoon and then working it with your hands, or with the dough hook. (It may take more white flour to make a mass that is not sticky.)

Lift from the bowl if to be kneaded by hand, or leave in the mixer bowl if with the dough hook. Knead by hand, or with the dough hook, for 10 minutes.

(If kneading by hand, place the dough on the floured work surface and begin to knead the dough aggressively with a strong motion of push-turn-fold. If the dough is slack and sticky, add sprinkles of flour. Once in a while, lift the dough high above the work surface and bring it down with a crash to speed the process. Do this three or four times and then resume kneading.)

Place the ball of dough in a greased bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and leave at room temperature to double in volume, three to four hours.

TO SHAPE:
Push down the dough and turn out onto a well-floured work surface. Divide the dough into the desired number of pieces and shape it firmly with cupped hands into pistolette shapes, tight balls or larger round loaves. Place on greased baking sheets and press down to flatten slightly. Leave the rolls (or loaves) under wax paper to triple in size, about 2 1/2 hours at room temperature.

TO BAKE:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F 20 minutes before baking. Place a broiler pan on the bottom rack.

Five minutes before the bread goes into the oven, pour one cup hot water in the pan to create a moist, steamy oven. (Be extremely cautious here, as the steam - especially the initial burst - can burn you. Use a long-handled pot or small watering can to pour in the water and take care when opening the oven door afterward.)

Place the loaves on the middle rack. Midway through baking, shift the loaves to balance the effect of the oven's heat. They're done when golden brown, in 15 to 20 minutes. (Larger loaves of bread should bake for 40 to 50 minutes.) The bottom crust will sound hard and hollow when tapped with a forefinger. Place on metal rack to cool.

Makes 12 to 24 pistolettes or rolls
Adapted from source: Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads