Rosemary and Sea Salt Bread

Do you want to hear my inspiration for making this bread? I was driving home from my daughter's house, the radio tuned to the Oldies Station. A Rolling Stone's song had just finished playing as I slowed to a stop at a red light. Then the Newbeats came on next singing about Bread and Butter. That's when it hit me, I need to make some bread.

So as I sat there at the light, fantasizing about baking bread, a beat up green generic car rolled up along side of me. His blaring stereo of Hip Hop music drowning out the Newbeats. I glanced over at him, giving him the evil eye as I turned my radio up louder. That caught his attention and his stereo went louder.

"Okay sonny boy. You want to play that game," I thought to myself as I cranked the radio even louder. The sound waves in my car had the sagging skin on my face and neck vibrating to the beat of Bread and Butter.

I glanced again at the young whipper-snapper as he turned his stereo to full blast. He sat there like a stone, his eyes bulging from his head.

The light turned green and I peeled out, my burning Michelin tires leaving smoke in my wake. Through the blue haze, I gave another quick glance at the young man. I could swear I saw him crying for his momma and blood dripping from his ears. The poor kid had no way of knowing that I had lost part of my hearing many years ago listening to rock n roll music at concerts and from my stereo.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup warm water (105°F - 115°F)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon Sea Salt (Plus Extra For Sprinkling)
3 tablespoons fresh chopped Rosemary
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Place yeast, sugar, and water in large bowl and allow it to become bubbly. After mixture has become bubbly, mix in 2 cups of flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons of rosemary. Knead dough for about 10 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic. Add additional flour if necessary.

3. Oil a bowl, place dough ball in bowl, and cover with a towel. Place bowl in a warm place and let the dough rise for one hour, or until it has doubled in size.

4. After the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it in half. Let the dough rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Working on a floured surface, shape the dough into two oval loaves. Melt the butter and brush it over the surface of the loaves. Sprinkle the remaining rosemary on top of the loaves of bread.To taste, sprinkle additional sea salt on the loaves of bread.

6. Transfer the loaves of bread to baking sheet, and then on to the oven. Bake each loaf for 20 - 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.