by Stef

Ingredients:

• 500g strong white bread flour
• 40g butter or margarine, melted
• 12g fast action dried yeast
• 2 tsp salt
• 300ml warm water
• A little olive or sunflower oil

Method:

1. In a bowl, mix together the flour, melted butter, yeast and salt

2. Mix in the water a little at a time until you form a soft dough

3. Pour a little oil on your work surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes

4. Put the dough back in the (clean) bowl and cover with cling film. Leave to rise for 1 hour

5. After the dough has doubles in size, tip out onto a floured surface and fold it for one minute. Form into a round ball and place on a lined baking tray

6. Cover with a tea towel and leave to rise for another hour

7. Heat the oven to 200c. Put a tray or ovenproof dish at the bottom of the oven

8. Dust the top of the load with flour and cut lines across the surface to form a diamond pattern

9. Put loaf in the oven and at the same time add cold water to the dish at the bottom (this will give the load a nice crust)

10. Bake for 30 minutes