Bread report. Thanks everyone, it is great and actually looks like

[Paper Roses]

one of the round Italian loaves. I let the dough rise from 6PM yesterday until about 2PM today. Turned it out as instructed. Warpy, You are right about the feel of your earlobe. I thought that was a strange description but that is exactly how it felt. After 2 hours covered with a floured towel, I put it in the preheated, covered 5 qt dutch oven. Uncovered it in 30 minutes. I thought I might be in trouble as it got brown a little soon--about 16 minutes later I took it out of the oven and let it cool. I just had a slice(with butter). Fantastic. Chewy, great texture and taste.

I will make a loaf for my daughter tomorrow and bake it Thursday. I may use a slightly smaller Le Creuset dutch oven so that the bread is slightly higher. Think this is OK? My cast iron dutch oven is 10 inches in diameter, the Le Creuset is nine.

BTW, This is my first use of the glass cover for my new Dutch oven and it was fine.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. Isn't the first loaf exciting?

I have a picture of my first loaf! And it was so yummy. Mine were eerily consistent from loaf to loaf - they all looked exactly alike. Making it in your slightly smaller Le Creuset will make no difference at all except that it will be slightly higher.

Next you will probably embark on the "I must find the perfect vessel" stage. I can't tell you how many different covered casseroles I bought - only to revert to my original - the crockpot liner!

[cbayer]

2. Congratulations! Sounds like it came out just right.

:toast:

[Tesha]

3. Yea!!!

Another Bread Mavin!

:toast:

[Warpy]

4. I'm glad it worked out so well for you

I use the smaller Le Creuset round Dutch oven for mine. It lifted the top slightly once when I didn't handle it enough, my first batch, but it's always been fine since. Even that first batch was edible if the crust left a little to be desired.

You'll be able to play with it now and figure out which tweaks you like best.