Crusty Bread

 "I found this recipe on Pinterest and it came from HERE.  I am so excited to share this recipe with you.  I am in love.  Not only is this bread super easy, but looks absolutely gorgeous and tastes heavenly.  I made my dough at 8pm and baked it at 11:30 am the next day for dinner.  I greased my pot, but I didn't need to...it just comes right out."

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups unbleached all purpose flour ( I had bread flour on hand and it worked fine)

1 3/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon yeast

1 1/2 cups water

DIRECTIONS:

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast.  Add water and mix until a shaggy mixture forms.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 12 - 18 hours.  Overnight works great.  Heat oven to 450 degrees.  When the oven has reached 450 degrees place a cast iron pot with a lid in the oven and heat the pot for 30 minutes. (I used a metal Farberwear pot but anything with a lid will do)  Meanwhile, pour dough onto a heavily floured surface and shape into a ball.  Cover with plastic wrap and let set while the pot is heating.  Remove hot pot from the oven and drop in the dough.  Cover and return to oven for 30 minutes.  After 30 minutes remove the lid and bake an additional 15 minutes.  Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.  

Mix in ideas:

-3/4 cup cranberries, orange zest from one orange and about 1/2 cups sliced almonds

- zest from two lemons, chopped fresh rosemary and about 2 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere

-pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and poppy seeds

-Turkey bacon and cheddar
-Rosemary, feta and sundried tomatoes (the ones in oil to bring a fantastic flavor)
-Jalapeno, and pepper jack (use canned peppers - small can)
-Chocolate and cranberry
-Rosemary and sharp cheddar
-Chocolate chip and orange infused cranberries
- Apricot, cranberry, and chocolate -
- Rosemary and Feta
-Marinated artichokes and raw garlic - sliced 6 cloves very thinly
- Orange infused cranberry, almond and orange zest
-Lemon zest, feta, and rosemary