Stone Ground Corn Meal / Salt Rising Bread
bread~15 hrfrom the kitchen of Aunt LouisePhoebe Butler’s recipe box
cornmeal · milk · flour · sugar · baking soda · water · salt
· tap the card to flip it ·
1 hr active · 15 hr total (times estimated)
Ingredients
Starter
- 1/3 cup stone-ground cornmeal
- 1 cup fresh milk, scalded
Sponge
- 1 cup sifted flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Boiling water (amount not specified)
Bread (Final Dough)
- 2 quarts fresh milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- Flour, as needed (to make a soft, not-too-stiff dough)
Steps
Starter
- Combine the cornmeal and scalded milk; mix well.
- Keep warm until bubbly — about 12 hours. Begin around 4–5 PM so it is ready by morning. Can stir just before bed.
Sponge
- Combine the sifted flour, sugar, and baking soda.
- Add boiling water and stir until a thin dough forms.
- Add the thin dough to the starter and mix.
- Sprinkle flour over the top; let it start to rise until it comes to about 2 inches from the top of the pan.
Bread (Final Dough)
- Scald 2 quarts of fresh milk until a scum forms on top.
- Cool with cold water, then add 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons salt.
- Sift in flour until the mixture is thick, then add the sponge from the previous stage.
- Sprinkle flour on top and keep warm.
- Continue adding flour until a soft dough forms; shape into bread loaves. Dough should not be too stiff.
- Bake and enjoy. (No baking temperature or time specified.)