Yeast-raised bread in a bread maker
Description
This recipe won't take much time. Of course, a bread machine is sometimes indispensable precisely because of its convenience—just add the ingredients to the pan in the evening, set the timer, and wake up to fresh bread in the morning. But sometimes you really want that classic sponge-dough bread—like from childhood, made by grandma—with a slight tang, springy crumb, and an amazing, rustic aroma. If you feel the same—welcome to the club of sponge-dough bread lovers using a bread machine! So, the night before, mix half of the water (naturally, warm), sugar, yeast, and one cup of flour in a convenient saucepan with high sides. Stir thoroughly. Cover the pot with a lid and place it in a warm spot (for example, near a radiator) for 30–40 minutes. After that, confidently place the sponge into the refrigerator on the bottom shelf and go to sleep. In the morning, take the pot out of the fridge ahead of time—let the sponge come to room temperature. Add all the remaining ingredients to the bread machine pan according to your machine's instructions. Pour in the sponge. Turn on the bread machine, select the "Basic" program, choose your preferred crust color and thickness, then press "Start." The sponge-dough bread will be ready in a few hours. Believe me, the taste is completely different from regular bread machine bread—just try it for yourself. Serve warm or cooled. Perfect with tea.