Jake Widmann

1: Mix together water and starter, then add salt, honey, and oil. Stir, then mix in flour until you have a uniform dough. Cover your bowl and let rest for 30 mins.

2: Grab one part of the dough, stretch it up and fold it on top of the rest. Rotate bowl 90 degrees and repeat until you’ve folded all four corners. Repeat every 30 minutes for a total of 3 times. Let rest until dough has doubled.

3: Pour onto a floured surface and divide into 2 equal halves.

4: Grab 1 corner of the dough to stretch and fold it on top of itself. Perform this 4 times for each corner of the dough. Place your loaves seam side down in a greased bread pan to rise. Cover. Once they’ve risen to the top of the bread pan, they’re ready to bake.

5: Preheat oven to 400° F. Place a cookie sheet in the oven with 1-2 cups of water in it. This will create steam to help your loaves rise properly.

6: Place both loaves into the oven and bake for 12 mins. After 12 mins, remove the water pan. Bake your loaves for another 20 mins. Take out of the oven and remove from the bread pans—this is a must.

7: Let loaves cool before slicing into.

8: Freeze any loaves you aren’t going to eat within a few days by placing them into a gallon bag. Place the loaf you’re eating in a gallon bag as well and always seal shut. It will last a week or more if the bag is kept shut.