Sourdough bread is so delicious!  This recipe is perfect because no fancy tools are required.  The most important thing is to be certain you have an active sourdough starter.  I feed my starter in the morning if I am planning to make bread in the evening.  

To a large bowl add:

3 cups all purpose flour

4 tablespoons butter

1 heaping tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt

Mix these ingredients together.  I use a pastry blender and my fingers.  This mixture will appear like a crumble like mixture.  

 

Next add :

1/2 cup of sourdough starter

1 cup warm water

Mix until blended.  This mixture will look sticky.  Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit for 30-60 minutes.  If it sits a bit longer it is just fine.  I have done this a lot because I have gotten busy doing chores.  No worries!  

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Next pour the dough mixture onto a slightly floured surface.  With your hands knead/mix the dough for approximately 5-8 minutes.  It will be sticky at first but it will become soft in the end.  I mimic with my hands what a stand mixer would do by pulling and stretching the dough.  Once the dough is mixed, form into a ball and place back in your bowl.  Cover again with plastic wrap and allow to sit overnight (10-12 hours).  Again if it sits a bit longer it is fine.  The dough needs to double in size.  

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The next morning grease a standard loaf pan with butter.  Set aside.  

Remove the dough from your bowl and place the dough onto a slightly floured surface.  You now want to press down on the dough to make a flat rectangle.  The purpose is to remove some of the air bubbles from the dough. 

 

Next you need to form the dough.  Starting at one end tightly roll the dough into a log.  Tuck in the ends and continue to shape your dough until it is smooth and fits in your loaf pan.  

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Now your bread needs to complete a second rise.  Do not skip this step.  Allow the dough to rise for approximately 2 hours or until the centre of the dough is approximately 1 inch above the edge of your loaf pan.  The temperature of your home will impact the rise time.  

Set oven to 500 degrees F.  Once you place the bread in the oven turn the temperature down to 375 degrees F immediately.  Bake for 44-50 minutes.  The bread will appear golden brown.  Allow the bread to sit in the pan for 5 minutes once removed from the oven and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.  Enjoy!