Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

I have a new favorite and it's my husband's new favorite too!! It's fresh baked bread, and I am a bit over excited about it. I wish I had started making fresh breads earlier, but I'm glad to have started now and I may never stop. Hello, carb-overload!

Because breads are certainly a part of any Thanksgiving meal, I wanted to share this dutch oven recipe. It's so simple and turns out so well! It would be perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner. You could scoop up the runaway gravy or top it with creamy butter. Really this artisan bread is perfect anytime. 

• What You'll Need
• 4 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 TBSP of yeast
• 2 TBSP sugar
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 1/2 TBSP salt

• What You'll Do
• In a large bowl combine the yeast and sugar, mixing well. Then stir in the warm water and whisk it lightly by hand. Let is rest for 10 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, combine 3 cups of flour and the salt. Mix.
• Once the ten minutes have passed, add the flour mixture to the yeast mixture one cup at a time. Then add the the remaining flour, a half a cup at a time until the dough comes together in a ball. 
• Knead the dough in the bowl for about five minutes. 
• Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover, letting rise for 25 minutes. 
• Preheat the oven to 400° and put the dutch oven inside the oven.
• Once the dough has risen, lightly coat its top and bottom with flour. 
• Remove the dutch oven from the preheated oven. Then carefully drop the dough into the center of the dutch oven.
• Slice three slits in the top of the dough and cook for 30 minutes covered. 
• Lastly, take the lid off and cook for 7 to 10 minutes until the top is golden and crunchy.