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1
Weigh out ingredients for the starter in your mixing bowl and whisk together. They should be the consistency of pancake batter.
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2
Measure out the remaining bread flour into the mixing bowl with starter (on top of starter).
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3
Make two wells in the dry bread flour, add the salt and caraway seeds in one, the yeast in the other.
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4
Place mixing bowl on its stand, cover (loosely with plastic wrap or a lid), and let ferment for 1-4 hours. The yeast will become active during this time.
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5
Measure out vegetable oil and reserve until ready for use.
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6
After the preliminary ferment, add oil to bowl and mix with a dough hook until a smooth, elastic dough ball is formed, about 5 minutes.
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7
Turn the dough out onto a greased countertop (olive oil or Pam Spray works well).
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8
Knead into a ball (1 minute) and place into a dough riser lightly coated with oil. Spray top of dough with oil, cover and let rise for 2 hours or until doubled in size*.
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9
Preheat oven with a pizza stone to 450u00b0F Be sure that the stone and a cookie sheet (bottom shelf) are in the oven when you start pre-heating it.
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10
Turn bread dough out onto a lightly floured countertop and divide into two pieces.
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11
Form loaves and place them on a sheet of parchment paper that is roughly the same size as your pizza stone.
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12
Cover** and let rise for 45-60 minutes.
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13
After rising, slash the tops of the loaves using a serrated knife.
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14
Place the rolls in the oven using a pizza peel.*** At the same time, put a cup of ice on the cookie sheet to humidify your oven.
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15
Bake at 450 F for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 F and continue baking for another 40 minutes. If your oven has a convection bake setting, switch to convection for the last 10 minute of baking.
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16
Cool on wire racks and enjoy!
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17
*If you are not ready to form the loaves after the first rise, you can punch the dough down and let it rise again until doubled in size. **I use a plastic storage container that is designed to store things under my bed. It is the perfect size and keeps my dough safe from cats, dogs and other critters. ***An inverted cookie tray works in a pinch. ****If smaller loaves are desired, divide dough into four pieces and reduce baking time by 10 minutes.