An old favorite.. Stick Bread....

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• 4 cups cake or bread flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 2-3 tsp sugar

• 1 sachet instant yeast

• 1 to 1½ cups lukewarm water

• Dash of olive oil (optional)

Tip: This is best enjoyed with a group of friends and family!

HOW TO MAKE IT

Place all the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and stir well. Slowly add the lukewarm water and stir until the mixture starts to look flaky (only add all the water if you feel it is very dry). Once the dough starts coming together, take it out of the bowl and knead it with your hands on a lightly floured surface until the dough becomes soft, flexible and no longer sticks to your hands. Knead for about 10 minutes.

Lightly oil your mixing bowl with a dash of olive oil and place your dough into the bowl. Slather the top of the dough with just a drop more oil, then cover with a cloth or cling-film and leave it to rise until it doubles in volume (this should take roughly 20 minutes). Prepare 8 ‘sticks’, any sturdy branches will do. Wrap the ends of each stick in tinfoil – this will prevent the wood from charring too quickly. It also helps to cook the bread while, at the same time, ensuring that any germs or dirt on the sticks do not touch the bread.

Once risen, knock the dough back a little, then divide it into 8 balls. Stretch each ball out to roughly 20cm long, and wrap the length of it around a stick. Now your stick bread are ready for the coals.

Hold them over medium-to-hot coals, but take care that they do not touch the flames, and turn them slowly. Patience is key; eventually the bread will rise. After about 10–15 minutes, when each is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped, then the stick bread is done.

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