Recipe: Pyrex Bake-A-Round White Sour Dough Bread

PYREX BAKE-A-ROUND WHITE SOUR DOUGH BREAD
Makes 1 Loaf

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup starter, recipe follows (held at room temperature at least 18 hours)
1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon cornmeal

In large glass or pottery bowl (do not use metal), combine 1 1/2 cups flour, starter, 1 cup warm water, sugar, salt and baking soda; beat until smooth. Cover with waxed paper and let stand in warm place for at least 18 hours.

Stir batter down. Mix in enough remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough (dough will pull away from sides of bowl). Turn out onto floured board. Using a baker's scraper or a spatula, scrape under dough, fold over, and press with free hand. Continue until dough has absorbed enough flour to make handling easy. Knead until it is non-sticky, smooth and elastic - about 8 to 10 minutes.

Shape into a 3 by 6-inch loaf. Brush with melted butter. Center dough in greased tube dusted with cornmeal. Cover ends of tube and place tube in rack. Let dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until almost doubled (about 1 1/2 hours). Dough is soft and will form tapered ends.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes. Slide bread from tube onto rack; brush with melted butter.

SOUR DOUGH STARTER

Starters may be purchased in dehydrated form at many specialty stores and gift shops. Or, you may make your own:

2 cups warm water
1 package active dry yeast
2 cups flour

Pour warm water into glass or pottery bowl (do not use metal). Sprinkle with yeast and dissolve. Stir in flour and blend well. Let stand, uncovered, in a warm place (80 to 85 degrees F) for 48 hours; stir occasionally. Mixture will be bubbly and have a strong sour aroma.

Stir well before using. Pour out the required amount, then replenish starter by adding equal amounts of flour and water. (For each cup of starter used, add 1 cup warm water and one cup flour and stir well) Leave at room temperature several hours, or overnight, or until bubbles again appear.

Then cover loosely with waxed paper and store in refrigerator. (Before using, starter should be left at room temperature 18 hours or overnight)

The starter is best if used once a week. If you do not use for two or three weeks, spoon out and discard about half the starter and replenish as described.

The starter may be frozen if not used regularly. Leave at room temperature at least 24 hours after defrosting.

Source: Pyrex Bake-A-Round instruction sheet