Homemade Artisan Bread

I saw this recipe online and thought it was the perfect recipe to teach my girls how to make bread!! The older 2 have made our beloved Thanksgiving Rolls a few times, but they haven't made regular old bread - and this was the first time making any kind of bread for my youngest. It's a no fail recipe!!

Homemade Artisan Bread

3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
2 cups Water- room temperature water start with 1 1/2 cups then add more

Mix the flour, salt and yeast until combined in a large bowl (the bread doubles)
Add in the water (start with 1 1/2 cups then add more until it isn’t dry, but you don’t want it too wet)
Cover with a plate or silicon wrap or plastic wrap and let sit for 6 to 24 hours (on the kitchen counter)
Then de-gas, by stirring it once to get the air out.
Grease your bread pan with oil or butter (coating with flour helps it to not stick)
Place bread dough in your baking pan and let it rise for an hour covered.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes covered (I use another bread pan on top, or you could use tin foil), then 10 minutes uncovered until golden on top *I baked it for 2 minutes longer at the end - it didn't look brown enough.

Different Mix-Ins

Options- Wheat Bread- 2 cups all purpose flour and 1 cup wheat flour (I have made this before with all wheat, I liked it, my kids didn’t as much….it is heavier)
Gluten Free- Use Cup for Cup Flour
Cranberry Bread- Before you add the water mix in- 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
Jalapeño Cheddar Bread- Before you add the water mix in- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 1 diced jalapeño *we left just a few seeds attached so it wasn’t too spicy- add more of the seeds if you like it spicy (or I chop up about 1/4 cup of the “Hot & Sweet Jalapeños” from Trader Joe’s that are in a jar)
Nut Bread- Before you add the water mix in- 1/4 cup chopped almonds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds and 1/4 cup flax seeds
Cinnamon Raisin Bread- Before you add the water mix in- 1/2 cup raisins and 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Everything But The Bagel- Before baking sprinkle evenly over the top of the bread with Everything But The Bagel Seasoning