Ingredients:

• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 5.5-6 cups all purpose flour
• Whatever add in you want
• Cold water to brush on top

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl put the two cups of warm water. Mix in 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of salt. Spread 1 tablespoon of active dry yeast over the top of the water. Let sit for 5 minutes. Stir after 5 minutes.
2. This is usually where I like to add my add-ins. I often add cinnamon and maple syrup. I microwave the syrup for 20 seconds before adding it so it is more liquid and mixes in better. If you choose to add something, keep in mind that the amount of flour needed may change.
3. Add the first five cups of flour one at a time making sure each one is fully incorporated before adding the next. Around the fourth or fifth you will have to start kneading. To do this use a lightly floured counter and dump out the dough. Knead and slowly add the sixth cup until the dough is no longer sticky and when you poke it it slowly bounces back.
4. Once the dough is fully kneaded, split it into two separate balls. Oil two bowls and place one ball in each bowl. Cover lightly with plastic and set to rise until it doubles in size, 1-2 hours.
5. Punch down and shape the two balls into two oval shapes on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Slice 2-3 slits in the top of each loaf and let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 475.
6. After letting it rise, brush a thin layer of cold water over the top.
7. Bake for 10 minutes at 475 degrees. After 10 minutes turn the temperature down to 400 and bake for another 10 minutes.
8. Take out and let cool before slicing and eating!

The flavors included in this bread can be changed anyway. You can add anything into or brush different things on top. When I make a sweet flavor I like to use melted butter instead of cold water and sprinkle sugar over the butter. My favorite things to add are maple syrup and cinnamon together but, you could add them separately, add nothing, or add whatever you want. 

This recipe doesn’t usually take too much time of actually doing stuff, it’s about 30 minutes of mixing and kneading, 1.5-2 hours of rising, and 30 minutes of baking and cooling.